FROM   THE  LIBRARY  OF 
REV.   LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON.  D.  D. 

BEQUEATHED   BY   HIM   TO 

THE  LIBRARY  OF 

PRINCETON  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


DOLLARS  AND   CENTS 


\^  Lr 


BY 


^  OCT  ^'^  1937 
3GICAL  & 


AMY   LOTHROP. 


'  Penny,  whence  earnest  thon !    Penny,  whither  goest  thou !     And  Penny,  when  wilt  thou  return  I 

Old  English  Protbrb. 


VOLUME        II. 


Ueto|ork: 

GEORGE    P.   PUTNAM,    10    PARK    PLACE. 


M  .  D  C  C  C  .  L 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1852, 

By  Geoboe  p.  Putnam, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  State*  for  the  Southern  District 

of  Xew  York. 


STEKEOTTPSn    BT 

BILLIX  &  BROTHERS, 

KO.    10    KORTH  ■WlLLIiV-ST.,   >J.  T. 

GROSSMAN*  4  SOX,  Pristek«, 
59  Anx-stekbt. 


CHAPTEK    XXYIII. 


There  is  a  comfort  in  the  strength  of  love ; 
Iwill  make  a  thing:  endurable,  which  else 
Would  overset  the  brain,  or  break  the  heart. 

Wordsworth. 


«  A  BSOLUTELY  left !"  said  Mr.  Howard—"  missed  the 
11.  stage  after  all  my  hurry  ;  and  now  I  can't  get  to  Ed- 
mondtown  to-day,  and  by  to-morrow  Jarvis  will  have  gone 
west,  and  my  rent  in  his  pocket !     Well — " 

"  One  may  say  '  well'  to  almost  everything,"  said  my 
stepmother  gently. 

"  Ay,  if  one  says  it  in  patience — which  I  didn't.  But  I 
don't  precisely  know  how  Fm  to  get  along  without  that 
money,  there's  the  truth.  McLoou  has  hoaxed  all  my 
tenants  here  except  Barrington  into  paying  me  no  rent  till 
our  litigations  are  settled  ;  and  to  prosecute  and  turn  them 
out  would  cost  just  about  as  much  as  it  would  come  to. 
No  easy  work,  neither, — that  fellow  O'Reilly  keeps  a  loaded 
gun,  and  swears  he'll  shoot  the  first  man  that  attempts  to 
oust  him ;  and  he's  just  good  enough  to  do  it." 

'•  O  pray  don't  go  near  him  I"  said  we,  by  no  means  of 
opinion  that  life  should  be  risked  to  gain  the  means  of 
living. 

"  I  mightn't  be  any  better  off  if  I  got  him  out,"  said  my 
father, — "the  next  tenant  would  like -enough  follow  suit. 
If  all  the  people  together  don't  checkmate  me,  it  will  be  a 
wonder  !  and  if  it  was  only  myself  it  wouldn't  be  much 
matter  if  they  did." 

"  But  papa,"  said  Kate,  "you  know  we  are  never  sad  nor 
cast  down  if  you  are  not;  and  as  you  told  me  once  these 
are  but  trifles — just  think  how  well  we  are,  and  how  happy, 
in  spite  of  it  all.     And  as  to  being  checkmated,"  she  added 


268  DOLLARS  AXD   CENTS. 

smiling,  "  the  queen  can  make  any  number  of  diversions,  and 
Grace  and  I  are  the  willingest  of  all  little  pawns, — it  would 
be  a  wonder  if  we  couldn't  i/?2checkmate  ourselves  papa." 

"  Yes,"  said  Mr.  Howard  a  little  bitterly,  "  if  one  wasn't 
tied  hand  and  foot !  Cut  off  all  a  man's  ways  of  raising 
money  or  almost  of  living,  and  then  tell  him  to  pay  ! — 
McLoon  would  contrive  some  sort  of  a  debtor's  prison  in 
any  country,  I  believe." 

"  Not  quite,"  said  my  stepmother — "  better  starve  out  of 
doors  than  in  the  Fleet, — and  I  have  no  idea  that  we  shall 
do  either.    I  am  sure  a  decree  has  gone  forth  to  the  contrary." 

My  father  drew  a  long  breath  that  half  said  she  was 
right  and  half  that  she  knew  nothing  about  it. 

"  So  am  I  sure — when  I'm  in  my  calm  senses, — once  in  a 
while  this  multitude  of  cares  and  arrangements  presses 
upon  me  till  I  get  bewildered,  and  then  the  world  seems 
upside  down  when  it's  only  my  poor  head." 

Mrs.  Howard  let  her  slight  fingers  rest  upon  his  fore- 
head, where  so  much  rougher  things  had  had  their  sway, 
but  she  said  nothing ;  and  stood  looking  at  the  fire  with  all 
a  woman's  unselfish  sorrow  in  her  face. 

My  father's  eyes  had  taken  the  same  direction,  but  the 
fire  said  different  things  to  him — or  he  took  them  differ- 
ently ;  for  while  my  stepmother  looked  through  larger  and 
brighter  tears,  his  face  cleared  up ;  and  at  length  he  said 
with  a  smile, 

"  There  is  magnetism  in  some  people's  fingers,  let  who 
will  deny  it !  I  who  sat  down  here  believing  myself  a  poor 
man,  am  suddenly  deluded  into  thinking  that  I  am  richer 
than  anybody  else."  And  bringing  the  little  hand  appre- 
ciatingly  to  his  lips,  my  father  looked  brightly  towards 
Kate  and  me ;  and  our  tears  were  not  the  less  ready  that 
their  source  was  sweetened. 

"  I  suppose,"  said  Mr.  Howard  after  a  pause,  "  since  I  am 
here,  I  may  as  well  go  off*  to  Wiamee  and  see  if  there  is  such 
a  thing  as  a  man  to  be  had ;  for  Adam  McKee  and  I  must 
dissolve  partnership — I  can't  stand  him  any  longer." 

"  O  papa,"  said  Kate  as  he  reached  the  door,  "  what  if 
you  were  to  take  a  basket  and  bring  us  some  eggs  1" 

He  stopped  and  looked  round,  the  cloud  coming  back  a 
little. 


DOLLARS  AND   CEXTS.  269 

"  I  haven't  a  bit  of  change  my  dear." 

*'  I  have  got  some  !"  I  exclaimed,  "  1  have  got  that  half 
dollar  that  you  gave  us  before  you  went  away  the  last  time, 
papa." 

"  Better  keep  that  Gracie,"  said  my  stepmother,  "  we 
might  want  it  more.  We  can  do  very  well  without  the 
eggs,"  she  added  smiling  to  my  father;  who  gave  us  a  look 
that  was  all  sorrowful  in  its  affection,  and  went. 

"  It's  such  a  pity  we  haven't  chickens  of  our  own  again, 
mamma  !"  I  said.     "  Why  doesn't  papa  buy  some  1" 

"  It's  cheaper  to  buy  eggs,  Gracie." 

"  O  mamma !  do  you  think  so  1  have  you  forgotten  the 
dozens  of  eggs  Ezra  Barrington  used  to  bring  us — and  all 
for  nothing  V 

"  But  the  hens  didn't  live  upon  nothing;  and  we  have  no 
Ezra  Barrington  now,  but  only  a  man  who  would  perhaps 
steal  both  corn  and  egsrs." 

"  It's  an  astonishing  disadvantage  to  poor  people  not  to 
have  a  little  money  !"  said  Kate.  "  This  buying  in  small 
quantities,  and  wearing  out  one's  best  things  because  just 
at  the  moment  one  can't  get  second  best ; — and  now  in  this 
instance — we  are  doing  without  economical  comforts  be- 
cause we  can't  atford  to  have  them  !  /  think  there's  a  good 
deal  of  humbug  about  it." 

She  walked  to  the  window  and  stood  looking  out. 

"  Katie,"  I  said  following  her,  "  do  you  feel  disposed  to 
go  with  me  to  the  peach-trees  now?" 

"  Not  in  the  least." 

"  But  hadn't  we  better  1  Papa  won't  have  time  before  he 
goes  away,  and  it  will  be  too  late  when  he  comes  home. 
It's  a  fine  cloudy  day,  too." 

"  Yes  I  will  go,"  she  said ;  "  but  here  is  another  of  the 
small  delusions  poor  people  are  under.  To  imagine  that 
the  fruit  you  and  I  must  thin  out,  can  ever  be  profitable ! 
I  wish  we  had  the  money  the  walls  cost !" 

"  It's  not  worth  while  to  go  back  to  that  now  dear,"  said 
Mrs.  Howard, — "  you  know  '  when  the  best  things  are  not 
attainable,  the  best  must  be  made  of  those  that  are.'  I 
am  very  sorry  you  should  have  to  do  anything  that  you 
don't  like,  but  the  day  is  not  hot — maybe  the  air  will  do 


270  DOLLARS  AND   CEXTS. 

you  good.  And  jou  know  we  found  the  fruit  raonev  very 
well  worth  having  last  year." 

"My  dear  mamma,"  said  Kate  laughing,  "  pray  don't  be 
sorry  that  I  must  do  something  1  don^t  like — it's  very 
good  for  me, — what  I  care  most  about  is  that  I  can't  do 
something  I  like  better.  I  would  rather  sit  down  and  read 
than  stand  up  and  pick  off  little  apricots  and  peaches.  And 
the  money  is  worth  having — though  I  never  can  see  that  it 
makes  much  difference.  Come  Gracie — have  you  got  the 
scissors'?" 

So  passed  the  morning.  Then  came  Mr.  Howard  and 
dinner,  and  after  it  a  long  conversation. 

"  Did  you  find  a  man,  papa  ?"  said  Kate. 

"I  found  so  much  else  my  dear  that  I  didn't  even  look 
for  one." 

"  Didn't  look  when  you  went  on  purpose  !" — 

"  No. — 1  wish  you  had  my  dislike  of  exclamation  points, 
Kate." 

"  But  you  see  papa,"  I  said,  "  she  has  tired  herself  with 
the  peaches  this  morning,  and  we  were  thinking  that  per- 
haps you  would  find  somebody  that  could  do  it." 

"  I  will  before  long,"  said  ISIr.  Howard,  taking  her  hand 
in  his.  "  And  you  needn't  either  of  you  have  touched  the 
fruit — I  didn't  mean  you  should — I  am  very  sorry  you  are 
tired." 

"  It  hasn't  hurt  us  papa,"  said  Kate,  her  eyes  giving  quick 
answer  to  his  change  of  tone.  "  But  what  did  you  find  at 
Wiameel" 

"  A  good  reason  for  being  always  patient,  Kate — even 
when  one  is  left  by  a  stage-coach.  If  I  had  not  been  left, 
M'e  should  have  been  checkmated  with  a  witness." 

He  went  on  to  tell  us  that  upon  going  into  a  store  in 
that  little  town,  the  first  thing  he  saw  was  a  paper  signed 
by  Self  &  Mulhawl  advertising  the  whole  contents  of  our 
house  to  be  sold  at  auction  on  the  following  Monday.  And 
this  was  Thursday  afternoon. 

"  So  that  1  have  just  time,"  he  concluded,  "  to  see  Phibbs 
and  set  him  to  work.  I  hope  it  may  not  be  too  late  now, 
but  if  I  had  got  off  to  Edmondtown  it  would  have  been, 
without  question  ;  and  we  should  have  known  nothing  of  it 
till  the  sheriff  came  with  his  red  flagr." 


DOLLARS  AND   GENTS.  271 

"  But  what  has  become  of  the  injunction  ?"  said  Mrs. 
Howard. 

"  And  what  can  Mr.  Phibbs  do  f  said  Kate. 

"  Don'f  know  I'm  sure — one  thing  nor  t'other  ;  but  law- 
yers can  find  something  to  do  in  every  case, — if  they  can't 
they  aren't  worth  much.  So  I  must  try  not  to  miss  the 
stage  to-morrow,  for  that  would  be  bad." 

Mr.  Phibbs,  the  chief  lawyer  of  our  region,  did  not  dis- 
appoint my  father's  expectations :  that  is,  he  found  some- 
thing to  do;  and  Mr.  Howard  came  home  in  high  spirits. 

"  It's  all  arranged,  and  Phibbs  is  to  bring  a  replevin, — 
so  Self  &  Mulhawl  will  get  little  good  by  their  un- 
righteous proceedings." 

"  What  in  a  replevin  V  said  Kate. 

"  I  don't  more  than  half  know,  myself,"  he  replied,  "but 
that  doesn't  matter.  It's  a  long  stick  my  dear,  to  push 
these  people  away  from  our  front  door — that's  all  we  need 
understand.  There  must  be  an  appraisement  though,  that  I 
may  know  in  what  amount  I  must  give  security." 

"  What  for  ?" 

"  Eor  fear  I  should  run  away  and  defraud  Self  &  Mulhawl 
of  their  'just  rights' — which  I'd  give  them  if  I  didn't  call 
myself  a  gentleman." 

"  But  security !"  said  Mrs.  Howard,  her  face  falling  again, 
— "you'll  never  be  able  to  get  it!" 

"  Why  won't  n  there's  half  a  dozen  people  would  give 
it  in  a  moment — Adler,  and  Egerton,  and  I  don't  know  who." 

"  I'm  sure  I  don't.  I  wish  they  may  not  have  all  heard 
the  proverb  '  Let  go  thy  hold  when  a  wheel  runs  down 
hill.'" 

"  By  your  leave  my  dear,  that  is  a  speech  of  Lear's  fool." 

"May  it  not  be  a  proverb  for  all  thatl"  said  my  step- 
mother smiling  ;  "  and  Mr.  Adler  wouldn't  be  the  first  man 
that  has  taken  a  fool's  advice.  But  1  hope  it  will  turn  out 
as  you  say." 

Monday  morning  came,  clear,  bright,  and  calm — we  a 
little  feverish.  The  mere  appraisement  was  a  disagreeable 
affair,  even  if  it  went  no  further;  and  as  to  womankind's 
schooling  itself  into  the  belief  of  all  Mr.  Howard  and  Mr. 
Phibbs  said,  thai  was  out  of  the  question.  So  with  some 
little  trepidation  we  saw  the  wand  of  our  clock  fairy  ap- 


272  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

proach  the  decimal, — what  strange  conjuration  would  then 
come  over  our  household  %  We  took  our  work  and  sat 
down  to  await  it. 

A  little  before  the  charmed  hour  appeared  ^the  sheriff 
(who  was  just  at  the  end  of  his  term)  and  the  man  who 
would  succeed  him, — this  last  had  come  for  a  lesson  and  to 
have  all  remnants  of  the  business  transferred  to  his  hands. 
A  novice  he  was;  but  Mr.  Cross  needed  no  explanation  of 
the  "  long  stick,"  and  being  presently  satisfied  that  every- 
thing was  in  proper  train,  he  occupied  the  time  in  giving 
instructions  and  information  to  his  subordinate ;  his  sharp 
and  not  over  pleasant  face  well  contrasted  with  the  look  of 
helpless  and  somewhat  hopeless  ignorance  with  which  the 
other  listened,  and  tried  to  understand,  and  didn't  make  it 
out. 

With  these  two  had  come  the  appraisers.  They  were 
rough,  country-looking  men,  one  in  a  green  baize  jacket,  the 
other  in  none ;  pantaloons  that  were  "  inexpressible"  in 
colour  at  least ;  and  boots  that  had  certainly  never  before 
approached  the  dais.  What  could  they  know  of  Hebe  or 
minerals  1 — but  there  they  sat  in  our  sitting-room,  never- 
theless. 

The  clock  struck. — It  seems  to  me  as  if  I  heard  even  now 
the  whirring  of  that  little  time-teller,  as  it  briskly  counted 
out  the  hour  and  then  gave  place  to  shuffling  footsteps  and 
a  call  from  the  knocker.  How  my  heart  sprang  and  sunk 
at  that  conclusion !  My  father  opened  the  door,  and  the 
empty  frame  was  filled  by  the  figures  of  Messrs.  Self  & 
Mulhawl. 

"  Walk  in  !" — said  Mr.  Howard  in  a  tone  of  cool  indig- 
nation, and  the  door  was  scarcely  closed  before  another 
knock  ushered  in  Mr.  Jenkinson — but  without  his  green 
spectacles  this  time.  The  three  worthies  sat  down, — just 
opposite  to  them  were  "  the  village  posse"  with  "  hats  a 
row"  ;  and  at  the  far  end  of  the  room  we  yet  stood  our 
ground — like  mice  in  a  cage  of  rattlesnakes,  only  more 
quiet. 

Tilting  back  his  chair  the  shirt-sleeved  appraiser  surveyed 
the  scene  w^ith  much  complacency, — that  curious  satisfac- 
tion which  a  vulgar  mind  derives  from  circumstances  and 
events  where  one  better  educated  would  find  only  pain. 


DOLLARS  AND   CENTS.  273 

As  from  the  same  chymical  compound  one  affinity  will 
draw  an  acid,  and  the  other  an  alkali.  His  neighbour  in 
green  baize  whispered  him  from  time  to  time,  and  they 
exchanged  little  nods  of  sympathy.  To  look  at  their  faces 
and  then  at  the  two  near  me !  In  these  was  a  strange  mix- 
ture of  strength  and  weakness, — the  calm  resolve  that  rose 
above  it  all,  that  could  say 

"  My  mind  to  me  a  kingdom  is ;" 

and  then  the  anxious  glance  towards  my  father — the  very 
yearning,  as  it  were,  of  powerless  affection. 

The  sheriff  had  ceased  his  instructions,  and  now  looked  a 
little  uncomfortable — perhaps  fearing  that  his  employers 
would  not  approve  of  the  replevin ;  and  Mr.  Howard  after 
a  moment's  rush  of  feeling  that  prompted  him  to  throw  the 
whole  party  out  of  the  window,  schooled  himself  and  sat 
down — between  the  mice  and  the  rattlesnakes. 

"  Well  !  Mr.  Cross,"  said  Mr.  Mulhawl  with  the  air  of  an 
injured  man,  "I  suppose  now  you're  going  on  with  this 
business." 

Mr.  Cross  looked  at  my  father  and  then  at  him,  keeping 
bis  eyelids  down  however  as  if  he  didn't  mean  to  be 
detected. 

"  Well  no,"  he  said ;  "  I  guess  it'll  have  to  be  put  off — 
there's  a  replevin  brought." 

"  A  replevin  !"  the  coadjutors  looked  at  each  other,  and 
then  began  a  muttered  consultation. 

"  I  s'pose  we  may  as  w^ell  go  ahead  with  our  work,"  said 
Mr.  Boggs  in  the  green  jacket ;  "  that's  got  to  be  done  any- 
how." 

"  Are  the  sureties  found  1"  inquired  Mr.  Mulhawl  sud- 
denly. 

"  Not  yet — there'll  have  to  be  time  giv'  for  that." 

"  Of  course !"  said  Mr.  Self,  who  "  did"  the  benign  for  the 
whole  trio.     "This  is  a  beautiful  place  sir." 

"  Yes — it's  a  nice  place  enough — if  it  were  let  alone,"  re- 
plied my  father  concisely. 

"  I  am  quite  glad  to  have  an  opportunity  of  seeing  it," 
pursued  Mr.  Self, — "  I  didn't  know  that  anything  M'ould 
ever  bring  me  this  way.  Very  fine  minerals  !Mr.  Howard, 
— of  your  own  collecting  1" 

12* 


274  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

I  looked  at  the  man — what  did  he  mean  by  thus  com- 
menting on  the  things  he  was  trying  to  rob  us  of? — noth- 
ing I  verily  believe  but  kindness.  He  felt  uncomfortable 
and  saw  we  did,  and  from  mere  want  of  skill  he  pressed 
upon  the  thorn  he  wished  to  make  us  forget.  But  his  look 
was  very  different  from  that  of  Mr.  Mulhawl ;  who  now  sat 
savagely  leaning  back  in  his  chair,  surveying  the  room  and 
us  as  one  of  the  aforesaid  rattlesnakes  might  do  an  escaped 
mouse — his  face  a  compound  of  the  sour  and  hard. 

"  They'll  want  some  one  to  go  round  and  show  'em  the 
things,"  said  the  sheriff  with  a  reference  of  his  elbow  to  the 
appraisers. 

Kate  laid  down  her  work. 

"  I  will  go  with  them  papa — I  showed  the  furniture  to 
Mr.  Cross  when  the  levy  was  made,  and  I  know  just  what 
is  on  the  list." 

"  No  daughter,"  he  said,  "  1  will  go  myself." 

"You  could  not  do  it  so  easily  papa;"  and  with  a 
whispered  word  or  two  that  brought  her  cheek  very  near 
his,  she  passed  on  to  the  other  end  of  the  room  ;  while  even 
Mr.  Mulhawl  drew  up  his  foot  out  of  her  way  and  Mr.  Self 
had  nearly  risen  from  his  seat ;  and  the  posse  looked  shy 
when  she  turned  to  them  and  said, 

"  I  will  show  you  the  things  now." 

And  leading  the  way  with  as  much  composure  as  if  they 
had  been  invited  guests,  she  pointed  out  the  cabinet  of 
shells  to  their  inspection,  and  stood  waiting  their  readiness 
to  go  further ;  but  her  eye  had  gone  out  of  the  window 
then,  to  the  fair  blue  sky  beyond  ;  and  her  thoughts  were 
veiy  far  from  the  unscientific  debate  at  her  elbow. 

"  I  should  like  to  have  a  copy  of  that  list,"  said  my  fother. 
"  Here — if  you'll  lend  me  yours  Mr.  Cross,  I'll  make  one 
myself." 

"I  ha'n't  got  a  copy,"  said  the  sheriff,  "without  it's  this 
on  the  warrant — but  I  guess  you  can  have  that,  if  you  won't 
be  long." 

My  father  drew  his  chair  to  the  table,  compressing  his 
lips  as  if  to  keep  down  the  inward  disturbance,  and  began 
to  write — it  was  no  use.  That  list,  of  all  our  ftivourite 
possessions,  of  almost  all  our  needful  furniture  ; — and  there, 
with  those  people  who  had  so  ruthlessly  injured  him  watch- 


DOLLARS  AXD   C£XrS.  275 

ing  every  movement, — with  us  there  too,  surrounded  by 
such  rough  intruders — self-command  failed  for  once, — the 
trembling  hand  refused  to  do  its  office. 

"  I  can  not  do  it" — he  said,  throwing  down  the  pen. 

That  was  my  grief  of  the  morning.  I  dared  not  look  at 
mamma  and  Kate,  but  I  stood  by  him  and  said, 

'•  I  will  do  it  papa." 

"  What  ?"  he  said,  looking  up  at  me  with  an  expression 
of  flice  I  can  never  forget. 

"  I  will  copy  that  list." 

"  No  dear— it  doesn't  matter — don't  trouble  yourself." 

"  I  would  rather  do  it  papa." 

And  drawing  the  papers  from  under  his  hand,  I  carried 
them  to  my  corner.  It  was  well  clear  eyesight  was  not 
needed.  But  the  words  Mere  familiar — I  wrote  on  in  a 
dream. 

1  Turkey  carpet — 

2  blue  damask  easy-chairs — 
1  lady's  cabinet  desk — 

1  case  of  minerals — <kc. — &c. — &;c. — 

At  another  time  it  would  have  moved  me ; — now  I 
thought  but  of  the  conquered  fortitude  which  I  had  be- 
lieved unconquerable.  1  could  have  borne  anything  else 
better.  Mamma  had  left  the  room,  and  the  loudest  sound 
there,  was  the  muttering  of  the  appraisers.  I  could  just 
hear, 

"Hum — about  a  dollar  I  reckon — I  wouldn't  give  more 
for  it — 'twon't  fetch  more.  What's  in  that  glass  box  Mr. 
Pelton  ]"  , 

"  Some  sort  of  money  to  look  at,  I  guess — house  is  full 
of  notions,"  said  Mr.  Pelton  confidingly,  as  he  made  the 
acquaintance  of  William  the  Conqueror  on  a  silver  penny, 
— "  be  worth  a  sight  if  they  was  all  liberty  caps,  but 
crowned  heads  don't  go  down  in  America." 

"  The  box  is  handsome  though — I  guess  it  might  be  good 
for  five  dollars." 

Writing  and  weeping  and  listening  all  together — my  fin- 
gers trembling  with  their  own  haste.  But  the  listening 
brought  some  encouragement,  for  the  smaller  the  appraised 
value,  the  easier  it  would  be  to  get  sureties, — so  my  father 
h.id  said.     He  sat  just  where  I  had  left  him,  his  head  lean- 


27G  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

ing  on  his  hand.  A  bright  thought  struck  me — perhaps  a 
brace  for  the  body  might  reach  the  mind.  I  went  up  to 
him. 

"  Papa,"  I  said  sofll j,  "  won't  you  come  into  the  kitchen 
for  a  minute  V 

And  selecting  the  best-looking  of  the  two  eggs  that  yet 
remained  in  the  basket,  I  gave  it  him  in  some  milk. 
He  thanked  me  with  another  of  those  touching  looks, 
and  we  returned  to  the  other  room, — I  certainly  feeling 
refreshed. 

A  new  knock  at  the  door  announced  Mr.  Phibbs,  who  had 
come  down  to  prevent  mistakes,  and  now  discussed  statutes 
and  sureties  quite  as  fast  as  Mr.  Cross  could  follow  him. 
Very  soon  the  three  associates  got  up  and  left  the  house, 
thinking  perhaps  that  they  could  talk  more  freely  in  the 
open  air ;  and  Mr.  Phibbs  and  the  sheritT  went  back  and 
forth  between  them  and  my  father,  to  settle  statute  limita- 
tions and  other  unintelligible  matters. 

Meantime  the  appraisement  proceeded  slowly.  If  money 
"  to  look  at"  was  of  uncertain  value,  how  much  more  the 
unrefined  ore  !  and  so  much  time  was  spent  in  hand- weigh- 
ing lumps  of  iron  and  grains  of  platina,  and  in  smelling 
the  unsavoury  specimens  of  sulphur,  and  wondering  at  the 
numberless  shapes  and  colours  of  unknown  minerals,  that  I 
began  to  think  business  had  merged  itself  in  amusement. 
Then  came  sofa  and  tables,  and  then  Kate  pushing  aside  a 
large  easy-chair  brought  the  appraisers  face  to  face  with 
Hebe. 

"The  fathers!"  ejaculated  Mr.  Pel^on—"  who's  that? 
'tain't  Martha  Washington  is  it  V 

Mr.  Boggs  shook  his  head  dubiously  and  glanced  towards 
Kate  as  if  inclined  to  ask  in  his  turn,  but  she  gave  no  en- 
couragement. 

"  It  don't  look  much  like  the  Gineral,"  he  said  with  a 
critical  air—"  I  don't  know  as  that  makes  any  odds." 

"  A  man  and  his  wife  is  very  often  different,"  remarked 
Mr.  Pelton. 

"  'Tain't  set  down  so  in  the  paper,"  said  his  companion 
consulting  the  inventory — "  I  guess  it's  something  else, — 
she  had  chink  enough  to  buy  shoes  with  /know." 

"  Well  what'U  it  fetch  ?"  said  Mr.  Pelton. 


DOLLARS  AXD   CFXTS.  277 

'•Something  short  of  a  fortin  1  guess,"'  said  Mr.  Boggs 
facetiously, — •'  I  don'  know  but  Yd  give  three  dollars  for't 
— maybe  a  little  more  if  I  knoNved  who  it  was." 

''  I  wouldn't,"  said  Mr.  Pelton, — "  the  figur  o'  nobody 
wouldn't  be  worth  that  to  me — if  it  warn't  Lot's  wife;  and 
I  don't  say  I'd  give  it  for  her." 

It  was  as  hard  a  matter  to  value  the  books.  Homer 
"  looked  wonderful  but  they  guessed  nobody 'd  buy  it,"  and 
Locke  and  Virgil  "  wouldn't  pay  no  how," — the  articles 
were  fairly  beyond  their  comprehension,  and  the  ignorance 
of  the  appraisers  did  us  better  service  than  they  were 
aware  of  By  the  time  Kate  had  taken  them  upstairs  to 
try  their  ingenuity  upon  beds  and  bureaus,  I  had  finished 
my  copying,  and  my  father  and  Mr.  Cross  took  the  lists  to 
compare  them.  I  thought  I  heard  a  sound  as  of  some  one 
in  the  kitchen,  and  knowing  that  Caddie  had  gone  of  an 
errand,  I  went  to  see  who  it  might  be.  No  less  a  persoa 
than  Mr.  Jenkinson,  who  wishing  to  soothe  his  surliness 
with  a  cigar  had  even  entered  the  house  uninvited,  in  search 
of  the  kitchen  fire.  I  supplied  him  with  a  match,  and  shut 
and  bolted  the  door  after  him  with  much  satisfaction. 

V>'e  thought  the  day's  work  would  end  with  the  appraise- 
ment— not  so.  When  all  were  gone  but  Mr.  Phibbs  and 
the  sheriff,  these  two  came  again  into  the  house  to  talk  over 
the  list  with  my  father,  and  to  strike  out  all  the  statute 
exemptions, — the  levy  had  been  very  indiscriminate.  To 
some  things  we  were  entitled  by  name,  and  then  to  such 
other  things  as  we  should  choose,  up  to  a  certain  amount. 
How  disagreeable  it  was  !  What  should  we  keep  ?  for  if  my 
father  failed  to  get  sureties,  all  the  rest  must  go.  Kate  and 
I  carried  the  copy  list  upstairs  to  Mrs.  Howard,  and  then 
went  back  and  forth  with  her  decisions  and  suggestions. 
It  was  hard  choosing. — hard  weighing  books  against  silver, 
difficult  to  tell  what  combination  would  outweigh  our  Hebe  ; 
and  yet  the  three  dollars  she  stood  for,  would  keep  our 
sitting-room  carpet ;  and  the  !Musee  Fran^ais  must  yield  to 
sjlver  forks.     For  when  we  said, 

"  O  mamma  !  wouldn't  you  much  rather  have  this  ?" 

Mrs.  Howard  would  reply, 

"  But  how  can  we  do  without  that  f 

The  choice  was  made,  the  amount  deducted  from  the 


278  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

total,  and  that  sum  of  dollars  and  cents  which  was  to  test 
some  of  our  friends  stood  there  in  black  and  white.  Large 
enough — with  only  this  comfort,  that  it  might  have  been 
larger.  And  at  last,  late  in  the  afternoon,  our  house  was 
cleared  of  intruders ;  and  when  it  had  undergone  sundry 
purifying  processes,  we  sat  down  to  dinner. 

For  a  week  my  father  was  away,  seeking  sureties ;  and 
he  came  home  having  succeeded  indeed,  but  by  the  hardest. 
One  couldn't  and  another  wouldn't, — rich  friend  after  rich 
friend  had  refused,  though  Mr.  Howard  offered  them  secu- 
rity ;  and  he  had  well. nigh  despaired ;  when  two  that  were 
friends  indeed  gave  their  names,  and  in  a  way  that  was  not 
the  least  part  of  the  kindness.  As  Kate  said,  "It  was  a 
blessed  thing  all  the  world  were  not  like  some  of  it." 

The  proposed  sale  had  only  been  adjourned,  to  see  if  the 
sureties  could  be  obtained  ;  but  by  some  delay  or  mistake 
the  issue  was  not  made  known  to  Mr.  Mulhawl,  and  the 
sheriff  did  not  hear  of  it  till  the  day  of  adjournment.  Then 
he  came  over  to  the  Glen  to  prevent  further  difficulty. 

Mr.  Howard  was  from  home,  but  we  were  able  to  give 
the  sheriff  all  necessary  proof  that  the  business  was  really 
settled,  and  he  left  the  house  remarking  that  he  would  stay 
about  for  a  while,  lest  some  one  should  come.  This  put  us 
upon  the  lookout. 

Again  the  wand  gave  its  ten  taps,  and  there — yes,  it  was 
Jenkinson,  Self,  and  Mulhawl  who  came  walking  through 
the  woods  from  the  turnpike. 

"  I  declare  they  shall  not  come  in !"  said  Kate,  "  unless 
they've  a  mind  to  break  the  house  down ! — there's  no  tell- 
ing what  they  may  choose  to  believe." 

And  with  most  eager  haste  we  ran  to  turn  every  key  and 
draw  every  bolt ;  for  though  we  knew  the  matter  was  all 
arranged,  it  was  impossible  to  know  what  such  people 
might  attempt.  They  chose  to  believe  the  truth  however, 
though  they  walked  and  talked  for  a  long  time  as  if  it  went 
hard  with  them.  Once  the  sheriff  came  to  the  house,  and 
was  honoured  with  a  window  audience;  and  at  last  they  all 
adjourned  sine  die, — leaving  us  with  a  partiality  for  shut 
doors  that  did  not  go  off  for  months. 


DOLLARS  AND   CENTS.  1W0 


CHAPTER    XXIX 


I  had  a  dream— which  was  not  all  a  dream. 

Byron. 


BY  the  time  we  had  fairly  talked  out  on  the  Self  aitid 
Mulhawl  subject  it  was  time  to  have  dimier  ;  and  while 
that  was  in  progress  Mr.  Howard  came  in  and  surprised 
us  most  pleasantly.  Then  there  was  another  long  talk, 
finished  otf  by  a  question  from  Kate  as  to  whether  "  any 
one  else  could  do  anything;"  and  the  somewhat  dubious 
reply  from  my  father  that  "  he  hoped  not." 

"  Are  you  very  tired  ]"  said  Mrs.  Howard. 

"  I  ?— ^  little,  not  much." 

"Too  much  for  a  walk?" 

*'  Not  a  bit — where  do  you  want  to  go  1" 

*'  They  say  Mrs.  Harrington  is  not  well,  and  I  thought  I 
should  like  to  see  her." 

"  Get  ready  then,"  said  my  father, — "  I  want  to  see  Ezra 
too,  and  the  walk  will  rest  me." 

"  Mamma,"  said  Kate  just  as  they  were  setting  out, 
"  Grace  and  I  thought  of  going  to  the  Bird's  Nest — do  you 
think  we  may  without  you  V 

"  Better  not,"  said  Mrs.  Howard, — "  I  don't  like  to  have 
you  take  that  walk  alone.  I  believe  these  disturbances 
have  made  me  nervous.  And  I  am  sure  you  are  both 
tired — Grace  looks  more  like  going  to  bed  than  anything 
else, — you  had  better  rest  this  afternoon." 

"  But  don't  you  rest  too  long  here,"  said  my  father,  "  if 
you  want  to  see  Mrs.  Barrington  by  daylight.  Of  course 
they  think  what  you  do  about  it — one  word  is  as  good  as  a 
dozen.     Come!"  and  my  stepmother  hurried  off. 

"  Why  you  poor  child !"  said  Kate  coming  up  to  me  and 
taking  my  face  in  her  hands,  "  how  tired  you  are  to  be 


280  DOLLARS  AXD   CENTS. 

sure !  Did  those  people  trouble  you  so  much  this  morn- 
ingf 

"  No — not  so  very  much, — I  was  a  little  excited,  and 
that  tires  one,  you  know  Katie." 

"  Lie  down  here  on  the  sofa  and  sleep — it's  the  best 
thing  you  can  do.  Mr.  Boggs  knew  very  little  of  the 
comfort  of  sofas,  or  he  would  have  put  a  higher  price  upon 
ours." 

So  I  lay  down,  and  Kate  covered  me  up  ;  and  for  some 
time  I  watched  her  as  she  sat  on  a  low  seat  reading,  with 
the  afternoon  sun  glancing  across  her  head — her  only  ex- 
trinsic ornament.  Yet  to  my  mind,  the  calico  frock  and 
white  collar  set  off  the  graceful,  high-bred  turn  of  head  and 
throat  to  sufficient  advantage ;  and  in  the  face  there  was 
all  the  sweetness  that  little  Paul  found  in  his  sister's  music 
— "it  was  too  dear  to  him."  Whoever  has  not  seen  tliat^ 
knows  little  yet  about  beauty.  I  studied  every  line  and 
outline, — giving  Self  and  Mulhawl  credit  for  the  rather 
pale  cheek,  and  assigning  the  slight  compression  of  lip  to 
the  long  course  of  our  difficulties;  and  I  was  busy  finding 
a  cause  for  the  somewhat  sad  and  patient  drocTJ)  of  the 
eyelashes,  when  I  fell  asleep  to  go  them  all  over  again  in  a 
dream. 

The  sun  had  long  left  the  horizon  when  I  awoke,  and  in 
its  place  the  firelight  shone  darkly  upon  Kate  as  she  knelt 
before  me. 

"  Gracie,"  she  said,  "are  you  quite  determined  not  to 
wake  up  ?  you  have  not  your  usual  regard  for  my  words 
and  kisses." 

"  I  didn't  feel  them  Katie. — Have  papa  and  mamma 
come  back  f 

"  Just — and  gone  upstairs  to  inake  ready  for  tea." 

"  Well — I  must  go  too.  O  Katie ! — I  have  had  such  a 
dream  ! — have  you  been  asleep "?" 

"No." 

"  You  were  so  pale  when  I  lay  down-:— and  now  this 
cheek  looks  flushed.  O  stay  quiet  till  I  tell  you  my  dream 
— I  thought  those  people  had  come  again  and  had  taken 
away  everything  there  was  in  the  house — every  single 
thing, — and  I  was  so  happy  !" 

"  That  was  rather  odd,"  said  Kate  smiling. 


DOLLARS  AXD  CEXTS.  281 

*'  Xo,  but  you  haven't  heard  it  all — it  wasn't  odd  a  bit. 
I  thought  I  had  watched  this  sofa  go  off,  last  of  all,  and 
then  I  came  in  here  and  you  were  sitting  by  the  fire  just  as 
I  saw  you  before  I  went  to  sleep,  and  I  felt  quite  happy  in 
a  minute  ;  and  I  came  up  to  you  and  said — not  to  you  but 
to  somebody  else,  Mr.  Rodney,  I  think — that  I  didn't  care 
one  bit  about  all  that  had  gone,  for  I  had  you  still  and  that 
was  enough." 

"  My  dear  Gracie !"  said  Kate  as  she  laid  her  cheek 
a5:ainst  mine — "  what  put  such  a  dream  into  your  head, 
love?" 

"  I'm  sure  I  don't  know — unless  it  was  watching  you  as  I 
did  when  I  first  lay  down, — O  yes  it  was  Mr.  Rodney — I 
remember — he  looked  just  as  he  did  when  I  asked  him 
about  the  channels  at  Bermuda.  But  you  don't  seem  to 
like  my  dream  ]" 

'•  There  is  no  particular  need  of  your  losing  everything, 
even  in  imagination,  dear  Gracie,"  she  said. 

"  I  sha'n't  let  you  get  up. — It  was  only  a  dream  you  know 
— what  are  you  thinking  of?  and  what  makes  you  speak  in 
that  way  ?  you  don't  talk  like  yourself,  Katie.  Are  those 
tears  in  your  eyes  ?" 

"  There  will  be,  if  you  look  at  me  so, — at  present  you 
may  suppose  that  it  is  a  gleam  of  the  firelight." 

"  Ah  I  am  not  asleep  now  to  suppose  any  such  thing — 
I'm  in  the  full  possession  of  all  my  senses  Miss  Kate,"  I 
said,  stroking  back  her  hair. 

"What  if  you  were  to  bring  some  of  them  to  bear  upon 
me  V  said  somebody  who  stood  at  the  head  of  the  sofa, 
while  a  hand  gently  touched  my  forehead. 

''  Mr.  Rodney !"— I  exclaimed,  starting  up, — "  is  that  you? 

0  I  am  very  glad  to  see  you  sir,  indeed  I" 

'•  Thank  you  dear  Gracie,"  he  answered,  "  I  am  very  glad 
to  see  you." 

"  But  where  did  you  corae  from  ? — how  came  you 
here?" 

"  I  came  from  the  other  side  of  the  fireplace — whence  I 
walked  leisurel}'-  to  the  head  of  your  sofa." 

'•  You  are  a  most  unaccountable  person  at  that  rate,  sir," 

1  said  laughing.     '*  And  1  suppose  you  will  not  say  how  long 
vou  have  been  here  ?" 


282  DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS. 

"  I  don't  believe  I  could,"  he  said  with  a  smile, — "  except 
that  I  came  ^vhile  you  were  asleep." 

"And  I  must  have  heard  your  voice  and  worked  it  into 
lYiy  dream ! — how  strange  !  I  wonder — didn't  you  stand 
by  the  mantelpiece  1" 

"  All  this  time  ?  not  quite." 

"  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  I  had  seen  you  too — I  dare  say  I 
did!" 

"  And  I  dare  say  you  didn't, — "  said  Mr.  Rodney  laugh- 
ing. "  You  have  been  remarkably  fast  asleep ;  and  if  you 
had  beheld  so  unwonted  a  vision  even  through  'a  half  shut 
eye'  Gracie,  I  think  you  would  have  waked  up  immediately." 

"  No,  I  should  have  thought  it  was  too  pleasant  a  dream 
to  wake  up  from.  But  I  thought  we  were  not  to  see  you 
in  a  great  while  again,  sir, — how  did  you  manage  it  V    . 

"  Didn't  you  tell  me  I  '  must  come'  1  and  '  must  always 
can'  you  know." 

"Have  you  any  idea  how  your  hair  looks,  little  dor- 
mouse?" said  my  father  as  he  came  up  to  us. 

"  A  faint  one  papa — I  am  going  to  arrange  it." 

"Tell  your  mother  that  we  should  like  to  have  tea  some 
time  in  the  course  of  the  evening,"  said  Mr.  Howard, — "  but 
it's  of  no  use  to  hurry  a  lady — ever.  Katie,  suppose  you 
try  if  you  can  hurry  an  Irishwoman, — I  am  really  tired, 
and  want  some  tea,  and  so  does  Mr.  Rodney  I'm  sure." 

See  the  inconsistency  of  men  !  my  father  had  wanted  his 
tea  very  much  and  yet  wouldn't  come  when  it  was  ready. 
Mrs.  Howard  put  the  sugar  in  the  cups,  and  stirred  up  the 
cream,  and  leaned  back  in  her  chair ;  and  then  leaned  for- 
ward to  look  into  the  teapot  and  make  sure  there  was  water 
enough;  and  then  despatched  a  messenger.  Which  of 
course  made  my  father  come — just  when  he  would  with- 
out it. 

"  I  thought  you  were  in  such  a  hurry  1"  said  Mrs.  How- 
ard, "and  here  have  we  waited  this  ever  so  long." 

"  Bless  me  !"  said  my  father — "  well,  I  was  in  a  hurry,  but 
did  you  never  hear  of  such  a  thing  as  '  waiting  till  your 
hurry  is  over'  ?  " 

"And  Grace  has  been  three  times  to  call  you." 

"Very  well  my  dear,  I  couldn't  help  that — I'm  sure  I 
didn't  want  her  to  come.     Sit  down  Mr.  Rodney.     I  am 


DOLLARS  AXD   CENTS.  283 

sorry  if  1  have  kept  you  too  long  from  your  tea,  sir,  but  I 
make  no  doubt  it  will  do  you  the  more  good, — there's 
nothing  like  having  an  edge  to  one's  comfort." 

'•If  ye  plase  ma'am,"  said  Caddie  coming  in,  ''here's Mr. 
Laross." 

"  Who's  Mr.  Laross  1"  said  my  father. 

"Meself  doesn't  know  sir — it's  from  the  Moon  he  is." 

"  I  wish  he'd  stayed  there"  said  Mr.  Howard  knitting 
his  brows.  "  However — '  the  Man  in  the  Moon  came  down 
too  soon'  Mhen  I  was  a  boy,  and  I  suppose  he'll  always 
keep  it  up." 

''What  are  you  talking  about!"  said  Mrs.  Howard, — 
"do  pray  be  quiet!  It  is  Mr.  La  Koche — don't  you  re- 
member Kate  Mrs.  Willet  said  he  should  bring  back  your 
book  r' 

"  Will  I  fetch  him  in  ma'am?  or  say  you's  at  tea'?"  said 
Caddie. 

"  May  as  well  do  both,"  said  my  father. 

"Tell  him  we  are  at  tea  and  shall  be  very  glad  of  his 
company,"  said  my  stepmother.  "  Why  Mr.  Howard  what 
are  you  thinking  of!  are  you  crazy  V 

"  I've  enough  sense  left  to  meet  the  common  emergen- 
cies of  life  my  dear, — farther  than  that  I  won't  answer. 
My  head  is  full  enough  of  thoughts  in  all  conscience.  But 
you  know  /couldn't  have  sent  such  a  message — I  haven't  a 
waistcoat  of  benignity  that  I  put  on  under  my  best  coat 
when  the  door-bell  rings." 

"What  an  insinuation !"  said  Mrs.  Howard. 

"  No,  no,"  said  my  father  laughing — "  I  have  the  most 
implicit  trust  in  your  benevolence, — I  verily  believe  you 
would  be  glad  to  have  your  worst  enemy  come  in  and  sit 
down  to  tea,  though  you  do  sometimes  keep  me  waiting 
for  mine;  but  I  never  reached  that  point — I  keep  my  love 
and  friendship  in  my  pocket,  and  take  'em  out  when  I  see 
occasion." 

'•And  did  you  never  have  your  pocket  picked  by  the 
means,  papal"  said  Kate  laughing. 

"  I  have  heard  of  such  things  happening  to  other  people," 
said  my  father.  "  Singular  mood  we  are  all  in  to-night — 
Mrs.  Howard  talkative,  Mr.  Rodney  meditative,  Kate 
speculative,  and  Grace  sportive — if  one  may  judge  by  her 


284  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

face.  Just  move  down  and  take  that  next  seat  Gracie, 
opposite  your  sister." 

"Mr.  Howard  is  queer  I  think,"  said  my  stepmother, — 
"  why  are  you  discomposing  everything,  and  congregating 
all  the  gentlemen  at  your  end  of  the  table  ?" 

"  Most  composing  thing  I  can  think  of,"  replied  my  father 
with  the  utmost  gravity,  while  the  lines  of  Mr.  Colling- 
wood's  mouth  told  of  some  amusement.  "  Good  evening 
Mr.  La  Roche — I  began  to  suppose  you  had  absconded. 
Did  you  lose  your  way  in  the  hall  1" 

"  Lost  my  way  in  the  Irish  tongue,  that's  all  sir,"  said 
Mr.  La  Roche,  "  and  couldn't  make  out  what  road  I  was  to 
follow.  Miss  Howard,  1  have  the  honour  of  returning  your 
Macaulay,  new-bound  in  thanks." 

"  That's  a  kind  of  morocco  that  doesn't  wear,"  said  my 
fither. 

"  What  did  Caddie  tell  you  1"  said  Mrs.  Howard,  after  a 
glance  of  entreaty  at  my  fother  ;  while  the  new  comer  laid 
the  book  on  a  side-table  behind  Kate. 

"  '  A  thrifle'  of  contradictions,"  said  Mr.  La  Roche  laugh- 
ing. " '  It  was  at  ta  ye  was,'  ma'am — that  is,  '  not  at  ta  at 
all  at  all,  but  at  the  table, — and  there  was  other  company 
— and  the  family  was  late,- — and  would  I  come  in  or  no.' 
So  at  last  I  determined  to  come  and  see  what  the  message 
really  was." 

"  That  we  are  at  tea  and  would  be  glad  of  your  com- 
pany," said  Mrs.  Howard. 

"  I  had  been  so  strictly  charged  to  entrust  the  book  only 
to  Miss  Howard's  fair  hand,"  said  Mr.  La  Roche,  who 
seemed  in  no  hurry  to  quit  his  stand  by  the  tea-board,  "  that 
I  felt  justified  in  acting  upon  uncertain  information." 

"  And  you  think  you  have  obeyed?"  said  Mr.  Howard, — 
"  that's  what  I  call  a  free  translation." 

"  But  sir,"  said  the  gentleman  laughing,  "  if  you  will 
please  to  recollect — circumstances  alter  cases — and  the  fair 
hand  was  not  altogether  within  reach." 

"  Occupied  with  bread  and  butter,  in  fact,"  said  my  father. 
*'  Well  Mr.  La  Roche,  if  you  will  come  round  and  take  this 
seat,  I  will  supply  your  hands  in  like  manner.  You  are 
acquainted  with  Mr.  CoUingwood  I  believe." 

"I  have  that  pleasure — slightly,"  said  Mr.   La  Roche 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  285 

with  some  doubtfulness  of  expression.  '•  By  .the  way,  Mr. 
Collingwood,  I  thought  1  had  understood  from  Mr.  Carviil 
that  you  were — I  forget  where — " 

"  Such  being  the  case  1  can  neither  confirm  nor  deny  his 
statement,"  said  Mr.  Rodney  smiling. 

"  No,  but  1  mean — not  here." 

"  Apparently  he  acted  upon  uncertain  information  too," 
said  my  father  coolly. 

Jf  Mr.  La  Roche  knew  little  of  Mr.  Howard  before,  he 
had  a  fair  chance  that  evening  to  improve  his  acquaintance. 
My  father  kept  him  engaged,  in  a  way  that  made  Mrs. 
Howard  more  than  once  look  up  from  her  work  in  a  kind 
of  wonder ;  and  though  Mr.  La  l^oche  would  perhaps  have 
chosen  to  fix  the  centre  of  conversation  among  the  ladies, 
he  could  neither  break  away  from  the  gentlemen  nor  teil 
precisely  why  he  didnt.  At  length  nine  o'clock  came  and 
he  went;  and  as  the  door  closed  my  father  left  his  seat  imd 
went  through  a  most  energetic  arrangement  of  the  fire. 

"  I  wonder  what  you  call  '  benignity' !"  said  Mrs.  Howard. 

'•  So  do  I — I  haven't  an  idea  that  such  a  quality  exists 
upon  earth,"  said  my  father  pounding  down  the  sticks  of 
ft-ood. 

"  Don't  you  remember  papa,"  said  I  laughing,  '•  how  you 
once  said  you  didn't  like  Mr.  La  Roche  ?  and  how  Kate 
said  there  might  be  good  things  in  him  V' 

"Very  likely,"  said  my  father  replacing  the  tongs,  "but 
I  presume  Kate  has  found  out  by  this  time  that  my  first 
estimate  of  people  is  quite  as  apt  to  be  right  as  hers. 
Haven't  you  daughter  ?"  he  added  with  a  smile  as  he  bent 
down  and  kissed  her. 

I  thought  she  looked  a  little  troubled — I  could  not  imag- 
ine wh\'. 

"  But  don't  let  us  talk  of  Mr.  La  Roche,"  said  my  father 
presently — "if  we  once  begin  we  shall  all  'give  tongue'  as 
your  brother  would  say,  Mr.  Rodney  ;  and  I  would  rather 
think  of  something  else.  Come,  put  up  your  needles  and 
let  us  look  at  each  other, — this  gentleman  is  puzzling  him- 
self as  I  do  sometimes,  with  a  vain  attempt  to  understand 
embroidery — or  why  ladies  will  work  at  it." 

•'  1  can  understand  the  working  of  some  things  well 
enough,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Rodney  with  a  very  unpuzzled  smile. 


286  DOLLARS  AND  CENTS. 

Mr.  Howard  smiled  too,  but  enforced  his  injunction. 

"  Fold  it  up  Katie,  and  sing — that  will  put  us  all  in  good 
humour, — give  us  some  of  Miss  Easy's  favourites." 

"  Come  sing  with  me  Gracie,"  Kate  said.  And  so  dwell- 
ing for  a  while  upon  what  was  indeed  never  long  out  of 
mind,  we  did  forget — not  only  Mr.  La  Roche,  but  all  the 
weariness  and  vexation  of  that  day  and  week. 

We  must  have  been  in  good  humour,  for  we  sat  talking 
most  pleasantly  and  happily  until  a  late  bed-time.  But  the 
next  morning  Mr.  Collingwood  went  away  and  we  were 
alone  again. 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  287 


CHAPTER  XXX. 


Ye  maist  wad  think,  a  wee  touch  lan?er, 
An'  they  maun  starve  o'  cauld  and  hunger  ; 
But,  how  it  comes    I  never  ken'd  yet. 
They're  maistly  wonderfu'  contented. 

Burns 


"  /^AN  you  take  a  stitch  in  these  gloves  ?"  said  my  father, 

\J  holding  up  a  pair  of  which  every  individual  finger  was 
tulip-shaped. 

"  Yes  papa,"  said  Kate  laying  down  a  shirt-collar  and  ex- 
changing her  needleful  of  thread  for  one  of  silk.  *'Well  I 
do  think  ! — that  is  what  gentlemen  call  '  a  stitch ' !  " 

"  And  I  should  like  to  have  this  cravat  cut  in  two — it's  so 
thick  and  clumsy,"  said  Mr.  Howard,  pulling  uneasily  at  the 
one  he  had  on  as  if  he  still  felt  the  other  round  his  neck. 

"  Do  you  want  it  to-day  papa  V  said  I. 

"  If  you  can — it  don't  much  matter." 

"  I'll  hem  it  right  away." 

My  father  went  upstairs,  and  when  he  again  passed 
through  the  room  on  his  way  out,  it  was  to  throw  a  pair  of 
pantaloons  on  the  sofa,  with  the  remark  that  they  wanted 
"  a  button  or  two." 

"They  are  hardly  worth  putting  buttons  on,"  said  Mrs. 
Howard.  "  How  shall  I  ever  get  him  some  pantaloons 
made  if  he  don't  get  me  the  stuff!" 

Kate  sat  leaning  forward  with  the  tulip  fingers  abstract- 
edly piercing  the  air. 

"  Mamma,  how  do  you  suppose  we  are  to  get  on  V 

"I  am  as  much  puzzled  as  you  are,  Katie." 

"  What  if  I  were  to  get  a  place  as  governess  somewhere?" 

"  Then  nobody  would  let  you  take  it,"  said  Mrs.  Howard 
smiling — "  I'm  sure  I  wouldn't.  I  will  never  consent  to 
your  leaving  home  in  that  capacity." 


288  DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS. 

"  And  I  will  never  consent  to  it  in  any.  Why  Kate ! 
what  would  become  of  me  ]  /will  not  let  you  go — so  you 
needn't  think  of  it." 

She  smiled  at  me,  and  then  with  a  half  sigh  went  on. 

"  What  can  we  do  mamma'?  I  am  not  disposed  to  let 
this  state  of  things  continue  if  it  can  be  mended, — we 
might  copy  maps — I  know  I  could  do  that  nicely." 

"  And  so  could  I — and  law  papers  mamma." 

"  But  my  dear  children,"  said  Mrs.  Howard,  "  you  cannot 
bear  up  the  house  on  your  shoulders." 

"  No  mamma,  but  it  would  be  a  great  comfort  to  earn 
something.  Just  now  in  the  mild  weather  we  can  manage, 
but  will  you  inform  me  how^  we  should  get  the  needful 
things  if  it  were  flill  instead  of  spring  ?" 

Mrs.  Howard  sewed  on  her  buttons  in  silence. 

"Don't  you  think  we  had  better  try  mamma?" 

*' You  might  copy,"  said  my  stepmother, — "I  could  do  it 
too,  at  odd  times,  and  as  you  say  it  would  be  a  comfort. 
But  I  don't  like  to  have  you  spend  your  time  in  such  a 
way." 

"  Better  than  spending  it  in  this  way,"  said  Kate  again 
displaying  the  glove — "and  we  need  not  do  it  too  steadily, — 
it  can't  harm  us  if  we  take  exercise  enough." 

"  And  we  are  not  troubled  with  interruptions,"  I  said — 
"  there  is  nothing  to  hinder  us." 

"  It  is  so  strange  !"  said  Kate.  "  Why  mamma  ive  are 
worth  just  as  much  as  when  w^e  w^ere  rich." 

"More,  Katie — but  people  look  little  further  than  the 
purse, — most  people." 

"  And  some  that  know  us  so  well— if  they  were  strangers 
it  would  be  less  wonder.  Mrs.  Suydam  has  not  been  here 
this  spring — to  be  sure  she  is  not  very  well — and  neither 
has  Mrs.  Egerton ;  and  Mrs.  Willet  came  but  once  in  all 
tlie  last  year;  and  I  don't  believe,"  said  Kate  laughing, 
"  that  Mrs.  De  Camp  recollects  where  we  live." 

"  Your  father  talks  of  taking  two  or  three  pupils  into  the 
house, — how  would  you  like  that  V  said  Mrs.  Howard. 

I  dropped  the  cravat  and  Kate  paused  with  uplifted  nee- 
dle, and  we  both  declared  it  would  be  "dismal !"' 

"He  doesn't  really  mean  to,  mamma?" 

"  I  hope  so — I  have  advised  it." 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  289 

"  You  have  mamma  !  advised  it !" 

"  Not  as  a  pleasant  thing  Katie,  but  as  better  than  noth- 
ing. Your  father  is  not  quite  decided  about  it — he  would 
prefer  a  Greek  class  at  the  Moon  if  it  could  be  got  together — 
but  if  not,  this  seems  the  alternative.  It  would  be  far 
pleasanter  than  taking  boarders." 

"  I  never  would  do  ^AaY,"  said  Kate — "  I  had  rather  be  a 
governess  and  have  the  comfort  of  thinking  that  the  rest 
of  you  were  enjoying  yourselves." 

"  That's  a  pleasant  little  delusion  of  yours,"  said  I  laugh- 
ing. 

"  But  can't  papa  sell  some  of  those  cottages  1" 

"  Being  a  poor  man,  no, — at  least  it  seems  not.  He 
means  to  pay  off  Mr.  McLoon  with  a  part  of  them,  if  he 
can  ;  and  then  try  if  we  cannot  start  fair  with  the  world 
once  more." 

"  And  does  he  owe  nothing  except  to  Mr.  McLoon  1" 

"I  don't  know, — that  Van  Wart  business  can  be  settled 
I  hope,  but  it  seems  to  me  I  have  heard  some  other  debt 
spoken  of." 

And  laying  down  her  work  Mrs.  Howard  rested  her  head 
on  her  hand  in  an  attitude  of  rather  sad  thoughtfulness. 

'•  But  my  dear  mamma,"  said  Kate,  "  how  many  pupils 
do  you  suppose  it  would  take  to  support  us  ? — and  this 
house  won't  hold  quite  all  the  rising  generation." 

"  Not  quite.  Your  flither  says  he  wouldn't  attempt  to 
manage  more  than  two  (I'm  sure  the  managing  will  come 
on  my  hands)  but  though  that  would  not  bring  us  a  great 
deal  it  would  be  something  certain, — much  better  than 
larger  uncertainties.  And  there's  another  reason  for  this 
plan — if  we  have  only  Andy  about  the  place  your  father 
ought  to  be  at  home." 

"  Then  he  will  get  these  same  pupils  at  once  I  suppose  ?" 

"  While  he  is  aw\ay  this  time,  if  he  can.  And  by  the  by 
Grade,  take  a  pencil  and  make  out  a  list  of  the  things  we 
want  for  the  house." 

In  former  years  our  lists  for  my  father  had  run  thus: 
Box^  of  candles — 
do    do  tea — 
do   do  raisins — 
do   do  herring — - 

13 


290  DOLLARS  AND  CENTS. 

bag  of  coffee — 

barre]   of  sugar — 

\  bbl.  mackerel — &c.,  &c. 

Now  we  said, 

"  Papa  I  have  put  down  tea  for  we  are  near  out,  and 
if  you  could  bring  us  a  few  herring  or  half  a  dozen  mackerel, 
we  should  like  it," — or  '"Papa,  could  you  get  us  a  pound 
of  raisins'?  we  wanted  to  make  some  cake  for  Kate's  birth- 
day,— but  if  it  is  not  convenient,  never  mind.  See  papa,  I 
have  marked  the  things  we  must  have,  so." 

And  then  when  Mr.  Howard  came  home  he  would  say, 
producing  a  paper  of  tea  from  his  trunk, — 

"  1  got  your  raisins  my  dear,  but  I  didn't  bring  the  fish 
after  all,  for  I  hadn't  money  enough — I  was  promised  some 
more  but  couldn't  get  it.  And  for  the  same  reason  Kate 
I  did  not  bring  your  shoes." 

And  we,  feeling  more  for  his  disappointment  than  our 
own,  would  answer, 

"  O  it  don't  matter  papa, — another  time  will  do  just  as 
well." 

So  much  did  we  look  at  each  other's  trouble  that  we  for- 
got to  look  at  our  own.  How  often  did  we  pass  lightly 
over  a  real  want  because  my  father  had  been  grieved  at 
his  failure  to  supply  it. 

Incomprehensible  we  were  to  other  people.  On  one 
occasion  Mrs.  Willet  happened  to  be  with  us  when  my 
father  arrived  ;  and  as  without  unpacking  his  trunk  he  gave 
us  a  few  trifles  that  lay  on  top,. she  sat  and  listened  to  our 
remarks.     At  length  hearing  me  say, 

"  O  thank  you  papa  !  how  good  of  you  to  remember  it ! 
I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you."  Mrs.  Willet  fairly  turned 
round  and  said, 

«  Why  what  is  it  f 

"  Only  this  belt  for  my  frock  ma'am — I  hadn't  put  it  on 
papa's  list,  and  I  didn't  think  he  would  get  it." 

"O — "  said  Mrs.  Willet  ti^rning  back  again,  with  such 
an  air  and  tone  as  she  might  have  used  had  the  article  in 
question  been  a  pin. 

Ah  one  has  need  to  do  without  things,  and  to  wait,  and 
to  have  hard  work  to  get  them,  to  know  their  value  !  Mrs. 
Willet  could  not  understand  how  the  spending  of  a  few 


DOLLARS  AXD   CESTS.  291 

shillings  could  ever  raise  a  doubt — (the  spending  them 
upon  oneself)  nor  how  the  many  other  calls  for  those  very- 
shillings,  should  make  my  fiither's  remembering  my  belt  a 
matter  of  gratitude  ;  that  stirred  my  heart  as  the  gift  of 
thousands  could  not.  I  believe  I  have  had  more  pleasure 
from  small  things  than  I  ever  had  from  great ;  and  have 
worn  a  pair  of  gloves  with  an  appreciation  that  no  rich 
person  ever  got  at. 

"  It  is  absurd  to  be  buying  hard  soap  at  the  rate  we  do," 
said  Mrs.  Howard.  "  I  give  away  fat  enough  every  year 
to  make  as  much  soft  soap  as  we  could  use  in  the  kitchen ; 
and  it's  better  than  the  hard  for  it's  not  so  easily  wasted. 
So  if  you'll  put  up  a  leach  Mr.  Howard,  you  needn't  get 
any  more  common  soap." 

"  It's  as  easy  got  as  uncommon  soap  I  fancy,"  said  my 
father :  "  but  what  sort  of  a  leach  do  you  want  1" 

"  What  sort  of  a  leach  ? — I'm  sure  I  don't  know.  How 
many  sorts  are  there  V 

"  Well  how  large  a  one  then  ? — will  a  barrel  do  ?" 

"  O  yes, — but  you  know  there  must  be  an  opening  at  the 
bottom  for  the  ley  to  run  out." 

"  I  guess  the  ley  would  be  stronger  if  you  let  it  stay  in 
among  the  ashes,"  remarked  Mr.  Howard.  "  Well — I 
suppose  I  can  conjure  up  something  of  the  sort,  by  the 
help  of  Andy  and  the  cultivator  and  my  own  recollec- 
tion— though  I  haven't  seen  such  a  thing  since  I  was  a 
boy." 

The  leach  was  made,  and  the  ley  came  forth — but 
wasn't  stronof  enough. 

"  We  have  burned  so  little  hard  wood  this  spring,"  said 
my  stepmother, — "that  must  be  the  reason — there  are 
too  many  pine  ashes." 

"Very  likely,"  said  my  father. 

"  You'll  have  to  get  me  some  potash." 

So  the  potash  was  got  and  put  into  tne  soap-kettle, — 
still  the  soap  wouldn't  "  come." 

"  It  must  want  more  fat,"  said  Mrs.  Howard, — and  fat 
was  added, — more  unsoapy  than  ever. 

"  It  must  want  more  potash." 

"  Well  how  much  this  time?"  said  my  father.  "When 
I  got  the  last  you  said  '  dear  me  !  that's  a  great  deal  too 


292  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

much,' — this  potash  is  like  to  be  the  carpenter's  door. 
Will  you  have  one  pound,  or  two,  or  three,  or  twenty  1" 

"No,  no — twenty  !  why  what  are  you  thinking  of!  tvTO 
will  be  an  abundance." 

But  my  father  brought  half  a  dozen  pounds, — still  no 
success, — the  soap  was  only  "  all  but"  as  the  country 
people  say.  It  was  boiled  and  cooled,  and  reboiled  and 
recooled. 

"There  must  be  enough  potash,"  said  Mrs.  Howard, 
"for. I  can  feel  an  undissolved  lump  at  the  bottom  of  the 
kettle." 

"  Maybe  there's  too  much,  mamma." 

"  No — that  lump  can't  do  any  harm." 

Finally  wx  sent  for  Mrs.  Barrington.' 

"  Now  what  is  the  matter  with  it  V  said  ray  stepmother. 
"I've  done  everything  to  it  that  I  can  think  of,  and  it  will 
not  grow  thick." 

"Well  of  all  things!"  said  Mrs.  Barrington.  And 
taking  the  soap-stick  she  stirred  the  half  ropy,  half  slimy, 
half  brown,  half  yellow  contents  of  the  kettle,  which  looked 
anything  but  amalgamated  or  at  ease. 

"  I  guess  it's  all  done  but  fiuishin',"  remarked  our  referee  ; 
and  to  attain  that  desirable  point  she  tried  what  seemed 
like  a  doubtful  experiment — the  addition  of  sundry  pails 
of  cold  water.  But  strange  to  say,  the  more  she  poured  in 
the  thicker  grew  the  mixture  ;  until  at  length  Mrs.  Barring- 
ton declared  "  she  never  see  soap  look  prettier,"  and  the 
great  business  was  done. 

"I  told  you  there  wasn't  enough  of  something,"  said 
Mr.  Howard  when  the  news  was  detailed  to  him. 

"But  you  didn't  tell  me  what." 

"  Of  course — if  I  had  been  making  the  soap  I  suppose  I 
should  have  found  out." 

"  Now  papa  !"  said  Kate,  "  you  never  would  have  thought 
that  adding  water  to  that  thin  soap  would  make  it  thicker." 

"  I  should  have  made  the  discovery  then ;  for  I  should 
have  added  everything  there  was  in  the  house,  by  turns, 
rather  than  wait  six  days  for  the  soap  to  '  come'  as  you  call 
it.  I  told  you  common  soap  was  as  easy  to  get  as  un- 
common." 

"  It's  not  so  easy  to  pay  for,  if  that  is  what  you  mean 


DOLLARS  AND   CEXTS. 

-by  uncommon,"  said  Mrs.  Howard;  and  my  father  having 
the  worst  of  the  argument  made  no  reply. 

We  were  most  disagreeably  surprised  that  afternoon  by 
a  visit  from  Mr.  Pegraph,  who  having  unfortunately  found 
a  place  in  Caddie's  category  of  gentlemen,  was  ushered  into 
our  presence  without  hesitation.  What  he  had  come  for 
nobody  could  imagine,  unless  to  get  a  night's  lodging :  xvhy 
he  came  seemed  to  be  because  he  was  a  little  out  of  his 
head.  He  made  a  great  show  of  asking  my  father's  advice 
about  some  business  matters  of  his  own,  talking  coherently 
enough,  but  with  a  degree  of  diffusiveness  and  an  occa- 
sional trip  of  the  tongue  that  told  of  the  enemy's  progress ; 
and  while  Mr.  Howard  answered  every  question  clearly 
and  briefly,  his  look  would  have  silenced  a  sober  man,  and 
he  resolutely  refrained  from  giving  the  desired  invitation. 
Mr.  Pegraph  had  sense  enough  left  not  to  ask  it ;  and 
ha,ving  said  what  he  wanted  to  say  about  half  a  dozen  times, 
he  demanded  a  guide  to  the  stage-office.  My  fither  imme- 
diately went  in  search  of  Andy,  and  once  relieved  of  his 
presence  Mr.  Pegraph  laid  aside  the  small  remnant  of  his 
discretion. 

"  I'm  ex-tremely  glad  t'  come  here  again,"  he  said. 

We  made  no  reply. 

"  I've  been  so  'fused  'bout  this  business — and  I  just  knew 
he'd  set  't  right, — so  h'  has — what  h'  says  must  be  right. 
There  ain't  'nother  man  living  I  trust." 

"You  may  safely  trust  him,"  said  my  stepmother 
quietly. 

"So  I  say — I  say  I  pin  my  faith  to  Jem  Howard, — 
if  he  fails  I've  lost  my  sheet  anchor,  and  drift  'bout — 
nowhere.  But  h'  can't  fail — Jem  Howard's  the  man  f 'r 
me." 

Self-command  was  all  we  could  attempt. 

"  1  say  I  pin  my  faith  to  Jem  Howard — and  trust,  and 
c'nfid'nce,  and  all  that  sort  'thing. — I  don't  bow  t'  an'thing 
but  'lectual  s'perior'ty — I'm  free  'nd  independant.  Why 
not  ?"  proceeded  Mr.  Pegraph  in  a  louder  tone  ;  while  we 
looked  out  of  the  window  and  wished  most  devoutly  that 
intellectual  superiority  would  come. 

"  What  d'ye  think  I  ever  came  here  for.  Miss  Howard?*^ 
said  Mr.  Pegraph  after  intently  eyeing  the  carpet. 


294  DOLLARS  AXD   CENTS. 

Kate  replied  with  some  difficulty  that  "  she  really  could 
not  tell." 

"  No,  I  guess  not — you  thought  'came  t'  do  service  t'  your 
father — so  'did, — but  that  wa'n't  all,  nor  the  most,  nor 
beginning  to  be  the  most.  I  did  do  him  service — good 
service — 's  well  's  I  knew  how — and  how  have  I  been  paid  ? 
I  never  'spected  it  of  Jem  Howard.  I'  came  f'r  some- 
thing else — and  I've  been  dis'pointed !  Now  Miss  Howard 
you  ought  to  know — '11  tell  you  what  I  came  for — don't 
mind  telling  you.  What  'd  I  come  for?  was't  money? 
I  don't  say  anything  'bout  that — I  might  've  taken  it — and 
'might  not — what  'wanted  was" — 

We  never  shall  know  what — for  at  this  interesting  point 
my  father  entered  the  room,  and  said  that  Andy  was  in 
waiting.  And  quitting  his  chair  as  if  it  were  like  the  Irish- 
man's bottle,  "  a  friend  that  would  stand  by  him  when  he 
couldn't  stand  by  himself,"  Mr.  Pegraph  made  a  happy 
guess  at  the  doorway  and  disappeared. 

"  I'm  afraid  we  have  done  wrong  to  let  him  go,"  said 
Mrs.  Howard,  her  pity  getting  the  upper  hand  both  of  dis- 
gust and  amusement, — "  I  am  sure  he  did  not  feel  fit  to 
walk." 

"  And  I  am  sure  he  wasn't  fit  to  stay  here,"  said  my 
father,  with  a  most  unqualified  expression  of  face. 

"But  if  any  accident  should  happen — if  he  should  fall 
into  the  lake — " 

"  A  cold  bath  would  do  him  good.  You  need  not  con- 
cern yourself — he  can't  find  a  mud-puddle  between  here 
and  Ethan." 

But  Mr.  Pegraph  was  not  to  see  Ethan  that  night,  for 
as  Andy  afterwards  declared,  he  walked  so  slow,  and  sat 
down  so  often  to  rest,  that  they  had  not  gone  half  the  way 
when  the  stage  passed  them  .by  a  cross  road. 

We  had  done  tea,  and  the  twilight  was  near  ending, 
when  Caddie  burst  into  the  room  with  a  flice  of  the  most 
ecstatic  delight. 

"  The  crathur's  come  back  agin !" 

"  What,  not  that  man  V  said  my  father. 

"Troth  and  he  is  sir,  and  half  luny — or  pretty  far 
down,  any  way.  And  it's  Andy  that  can't  walk  up  for 
laushinir !" 


DOLLARS  ASD  CEXTS.  295 

And  out  she  ru?hed  to  see  more  of  the  fun. 

"I  shall  send  him  off  to  Wiarnee,"  said  Mr.  Howard 
moving  towards  the  door. 

"At  this  time  of  ni^rht !  O  no — he  never  could  get 
there !"  said  my  stepmother.  '*  Let  him  stay  here — it  will 
soon  be  bed-time." 

A  little  hesitating  rap  repeated  her  petition.  My  ftither 
held  a  moment's  debate  with  his  good-nature,  and  then 
opened  the  door  and  admitted  Mr.  Pegraph. 

He  was  a  pitiable  sight ;  and  his  first  look,  half  apology 
and  half  shame,  would  have  moved  any  human  nature  that 
had  ever  understood  the  question,  "  Who  maketh  thee  to 
differ]" 

He  had  not  drunk  enough  to  stupefy  him — there  seemed 
to  be  a  half  consciousness  of  his  condition,  and  a  desperate 
effort  to  overcome  it  and  talk  straight.  In  vain, — the  poi- 
son held  its  sceptre  with  a  strengthening  hand.  When  Mr. 
Pegraph  first  appeared  in  the  afternoon,  we  had  noticed 
nothing  but  a  little  oddity  that  might  have  been  derange- 
ment instead  of  intoxication, — then  had  come  the  random 
talk ;  and  now,  with  it  and  most  pitiable  of  all,  the  ran- 
dom smiles. 

'•  Hard  at  work  !"  he  said  looking  at  us, — "  sew  a  great 
deal !  So  d 's  my  wife — she  works  too.  You  know  Fm  a 
married  man  Mr.  Howard  V 

My  f;\ther  assented,  but  the  question  had  thrilled  to  the 
heart  of  every  woman  there.  To  see  any  man  tipsy  was 
bad  enough,  but  a  married  man  ! — alas  for  his  wife  !" 

'•  Yes,"  he  went  on,  "  I'm  just  married — four  months 
'guess — got  'firstrate  wife  Mr.  Howard.  And  why  d'  I  let 
her  sew  ]  I  say  she  sews  a  great  deal — for  why  ? — I'm  a 
poor  man.  But  we'll  get  on — 'hope  t'  see  her  in  a  carriage 
yet — and  then  if  she  takes  'needle  f'r  anything  'cept  pleas- 
ure, there'll  be  trouble  in  the  wigwam."  And  Mr.  Pegraph 
shook  his  head  with  quite  a  fierce  air,  and  then  subsided 
into  a  smile  as  ridiculous  as  possible. 

"  Have  you  been  to  tea  f  said  my  father. 

"No — th'nk  you — Mr. — Howard, — don't  want  any — 
never  care  f'r  tea  when  c'n  get  dinner." 

"  Do  you  ever  drink  milk  Mr.  Pegraph?"  said  Kate,  with 
a  sudden  recollection  of  that  antidote  for  alcohol. 


296  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

"  Very  fond  of 't  Miss  Howard — like  't  better  th'ii  any- 
thing." 

Kate  hastily  went  for  some,  and  he  drank  it  with  a  look 
that  seemed  benignly  aware  of  her  intention. 

"  I  think  't's  more — wh'lsm  than  water,"  he  remarked — 
"always  take  't  in  town." 

By  degrees  he  grew  silent  and  sleepy,  and  was  ushered 
upstairs  by  my  flither,  who  went  afterwards  to  bring  away 
the  light  and  make  sure  that  it  had  done  no  mischief. 

Mr,  Pegraph  was  sobered  by  breakfast-time,  but  either 
stupid  or  ashamed,  for  he  ventured  to  say  very  little.  But 
when  he  was  going  away  he  contided  to  my  father  that  "he 
hadn't  been  well  the  day  before,  and  had  allowed  himself 
to  be  persuaded  to  take  some  soda  water — which  he  never 
drank, — and  that  there  must  have  been  something  in  it,  for 
it  had  disagreed  with  him." 


DOLLARS  AXD   CENTS.  207 


CHAPTEK  XXXI 


Crete  rest  standeth  in  litil  businesse. 

Chaccer. 


THE  pupil  plan  was  carried  into  effect ;  and  on  the  first 
of  June  Mr.  Howard  brought  home  with  him  two 
youngsters,  of  that  pleasant  age  when  a  boy  is  nothing  par- 
ticuhir  except  a  plague. 

I  do  not  mean  that  Archie  and  Candlish  were  exactly 
plagues:  they  were  perhaps  better  disposed  than  most  of 
their  species,  but  yet  shared  its  essential  properties, — an  in- 
comprehensible love  of  noise,  a  perfect  contempt  for  order, 
and  a  quick  wit  at  devising  mischief  that  baffled  all  power 
of  calculation.  Archie,  the  oldest,  was  rather  reserved  and 
quiet  within  doors,  and  by  no  means  so  interesting  a  boy 
as  his  brother;  but  Candlish  was  very  quicksilver  for 
brightness  and  power  of  locomotion.  But  in  his  little 
thermometer  the  mercury  never  went  down — it  seemed 
rising  indefinitely, — even  a  dash  of  cold-water  reproof  gave 
but  a  momentary  check.  Fortunately  for  us  they  were  not 
disposed  to  be  homesick :  and  it  was  likewise  fortunate  that 
the  one  who  needed  most  reining,  was  also  the  most  tender- 
mouthed. 

We  saw  them  come  with  some  trepidation, — I  should 
say,  heard  them ;  for  their  quick  footsteps,  so  diflTerent 
from  my  father's  steady  pace,  first  told  us  that  he  came  not 
alone.  I  remember  how  we  looked  at  each  other  and  then 
at  the  door, — I  remember  how  that  glance  said, 

"  It  will  be  liome  no  longer  !" 

But  a  woman  can  always  find  something  to  take  hold  of, 
— her  love  is  a  very  wild-flower,  that  will  grow  in  the 
crevices  of  the  roughest  rocks,  and  even  there  send  down 
a  root  that  the  wind  cannot  dislodge  nor  the  drought  wither 


298  DOLLARS  AND  CEXTS. 

And  for  these  poor  children — if  they  hurt  the  comfort  of 
our  home,  they  were  away  from  their  own; — and  that 
touched  us. 

•  They  were  not  slow  to  find  it  out.  The  somewhat  eager 
eye  with  which  Candlish  had  first  looked  up  at  us,  became 
singularly  trustful ;  and  before  the  evening  was  over  he 
was  on  my  stepmother's  lap,  as  in  a  very  sure  and  tried 
resting-place ;  while  Archie  detailed  to  Kate  and  me  some 
intricate  fishing  operations  in  which  he  had  lately  been  en- 
gaged, with  no  doubt  of  our  sympathy.  And  so  the  first 
hours  passed  off,  and  the  little  strangers  went  to  bed  look- 
ing as  well  satisfied  as  if  they  had  known  us  always ;  while 
with  very  different  feelings  we  remained  to  talk  over  our 
own  prospects. 

It  was  no  part  of  Mr.  Howard's  plan  that  he  should  over- 
see his  pupils,  except  just  when  they  were  in  his  study, — 
my  stepmother  was  quite  right  about  the  managing.  So 
much  of  his  time  as  was  needed  to  the  perfect  learning 
and  understanding  of  their  lessons,  my  flither  gave  con- 
scientiously, and  kept  the  two  boys  as  well  up  to  the  mark 
as  he  was  himself;  but  the  books  once  shut,  so  were  his 
eyes  and  mind  to  the  very  existence  of  Candlish  and  Archie, 
— for  the  rest  of  the  time  they  were  rolled  off  upon  us. 
Often  we  were  drawn  in  yet  further.     It  was 

"Miss  Kate  could  you  show  me  about  this  problem  1" 

Or,  "Miss  Grace,  where  is  this  word,  for  it  isn't  in  the 
dictionary  f 

And  if  we  said,  "  Why  don't  you  ask  Mr.  Howard  1"  the 
answer  was, 

"  He  looks  so  dreadfully  busy." 

This  was  the  sprinkling  of  the  shower  of  demands  and 
questions  which  fell  in  full  abundance  after  dinner. 

"  Where's  my  cap  1"—"  Who's  got  a  pin  V 

«  Hi  diddle  diddle  ! 
The  cats  and  the  fiddle !— " 

"  O  Mrs.  Howard !  mayn't  we  go  and  turn  hay  with  Ezra 
Barrington  f 

This  last  request  always  met  with  a  prompt  refusal — we 
did  not  choose  that  any  of  our  family  should  intrude  upon 
Mr.  Carvill ;  but  there  were  twenty  other  proposals  standing 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  299 

ready,  and  which  could  not  be  so  easily  disposed  of.  Kate 
and  1  walked  and  talked  and  listened  till  we  were  tired, — 
no  such  blessing  ever  befell  the  two  boys.  Mrs.  Howard 
would  certainly  have  dosed  them  with  sleeping  draughts, 
could  her  conscience  have  been  silenced  in  like  manner. 
The  garden  was  a  great  help,  and  many  a  morning's  ac- 
cumulation of  energy  was  worked  off  in  an  afternoon's 
weeding;  but  even  that  could  not  go  on  of  itself  There 
never  was  such  a  locomotive  as  Candlish — he  had  delivered 
one  train  and  was  back  for  another  before  I  had  fairly  col- 
lected my  thoughts ;  and  the  first  thing  would  be  a  most 
startling  whistle  at  my  back. 

"  O  child  !  you  mustn't  make  such  a  noise  in  the  house  !'* 

"  I  won't  ever  again  Miss  Grace.  But  what  will  I  do 
now  ?" 

"  And  what  will  \  do,  if  you  talk  to  me  in  the  parlour 
without  uncovering?" 

Down  went  the  cap  on  the  floor. 

"  But  what's  to  be  done  1  I've  set  out  the  lettuces,  and 
they're  all  weeping  for  sympathy  with  the  watering-pot ; 
and  now  I'm  wasting  my  '  waliable  time,'  as  Sam  Weller 
says." 

"  What  do  you  know  about  Sara  Weller  1" 

"Ah!"  said  Candlish.— "  O  Miss  Grace— don't  ever  tell 
Mr.  Howard  that  I  said  '  waliable' !  " 

"Did  you  ever  hear  that  old  proverb,"  said  Kate  looking 
up,  "  which  says,  '  the  way  not  to  have  a  thing  known  of 
you  is  never  to  do  it'  ?" 

"  Now  Miss  Kate  !  But  isn't  there  anything  for  me  to 
do  1     Shall  I  help  Andy  to  pick  the  '  dead  paes'  ?" 

"  No,  no,  you  let  Andy  alone.  But  Candlish!  how  can 
I  do  anything  when  you  are  shaking  my  chair  at  such  a 
rate  with  your  dancing  1" 

The  feet  stopped,  and  the  hands  continued  the  measure 
on  my  shouldeis. 

"  Have  you  watered  the  cauliflowers  1" 

"Some  of  'em  twice  over,  for  fear  I'd  missed  'em." 

"  Then  you  may  wheel  off  all  those  weeds  that  you 
pulled  up  yesterday." 

And  while  Archie  gambaded  past  the  window  with  a 
*'  Hey,  bo,  Jeminey !" 


300  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

Caiidlish  darted  out,  and  slammed  the  door  so  hard  that 
the  flowers  in  my  vase  all  nodded  their  heads. 

Kate  and  I  look  at  each  other,  and  for  a  little  while  feel 
stunned. 

Another  time  T  am  painting,  and  both  boys  come  rush- 
ing in  with  a  fishing  line  in  a  puzzle. 

"  You  never  can  get  it  out  Miss  Grace,  but  we  thought 
maybe  you'd  try." 

"Wait  a  little  then — I  can't  try  till  I  have  laid  on  this, 
wash." 

So  to  pass  away  the  time  Archie  looks  over  me,  ex- 
claiming, 

"Splen-did  ! — ex-quis-ite  ! — how  can  you  paint  so  I" 

And  Candlish  begins  to  sing, 

"My  name  Tvas  Captain  Kidd, 
As  I  sailed,  as  I  sailed, — 
My  name  was  Captain  Kidd 

As  I  sailed. 
My  name  was  Captain  Kidd, 
And  the  law  did  forbid 
That    so   wickedly  I  did 

As  I  sailed — as  I  sailed, — 
That  so  wickedly  I  did 
As  I  sailed." 

"  There — that  will  do,"  said  my  stepmother  when  she 
could  be  heard  :  "  you  can  finish  it  out  of  doors." 

"  I  must  sing  one  more  verse  for  you  ma'am." 

"  No — I  have  had  quite  enough." 

"Ah  dear  Mrs.  Howard!"  said  Candlish — "just  one 
more! — just  this  second  verse, — it  begins, 

" '  I'd  a  bible  in  my  hand 
As  I  sailed,  as  I  sailed; 
rd  a '  " 

But  Kate  laughingly  stopped  his  mouth  and  declared  he 
should  not  go  on. 

"Here  is  your  line,"  said  I. 

"  You  can't  untie  it  1" 

"  Yes — it's  all  straight ;  but  the  next  time  you  bring  me 
such  a  job,  please  to  dry  the  line  first.    Look  at  my  hands." 

Candlish  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  I  was  "  the  most  ex- 
traordinary girl  he  ever  saw  in  his  life,"  and  they  went  off*. 

We  paid  dear  for  our  popularity,  for  it  having  been  once 


DOLLARS  AXD   CENTS.  301 

discovered  that  "  Miss  Kate  could  explain  everything,  and 
that  "  Miss  Grace  knew  where  everything  was,"  besides 
being  a  sort  of  conjuror  in  the  way  of  knots  and  difficulties  ; 
all  knots  and  difficulties  whether  physical  or  mental  were 
brought  home  to  us.  Mr.  Howard's  dry  answers  made  the 
boys  rather  shy  of  asking  random  questions  in  that  quarter, 
so  except  during  study  hours  (those  which  they  spent  di- 
rectly with  him)  we  were  dictionaries  and  general  referees. 
At  the  same  time  my  father  maintained  a  sufficiently  strict 
censorship  of  English  and  manners,  but  in  a  way  that  often 
posed  the  objects  of  it. 

We  were  out  walking  one  afternoon,  and  the  two  boys 
had  been  excursionizing  to  their  heart's  content,  when 
Archie  came  up  with, 

"  O  Miss  Kate  !  won't  you  run  a  race  with  me  ?  I  know 
I  could  beat  you  to  the  bar-place." 

"  And  I'm  certain  I  should  beat  you  if  you  did,"  said 
my  fjither  gravely. 

"Sir! — Mr.  Howard!"  said  Archie  with  a  very  percep- 
tible flush  of  astonishment.  While  Candlish  presuming 
for  his  brother  as  he  would  hardly  have  done  for  himself 
exclaimed, 

"  Why  what  do  you  mean  sirf 

"Suppose  you  were  to  find  out  before  expressing  any 
opinion,"  said  my  father. 

*Our  laugh  told  them,  and  they  laughed  too ;  but  Archie 
said, 

"  Now  didn't  you  know  what  I  meant  Mr.  Howard  1" 

"  Yes, — just  as  I  may  know  whither  a  half-made  road  will 
lead  me,  but  that  don't  make  it  pleasant  walking." 

The  summer  passed  on,  and  the  fell  came  in  all  its  bright 
beauty,  with  its  troop  of  associations, — perhaps  no  season 
has  so  many.  And  one  after  another  told  its  tale. — That 
we  had  been  children, — that  we  had  been  strangers  at  Glen 
Luna, — that  we  had  found  friends, — that  with  them  we  had 
seen  year  after  year  put  on  and  put  off  its  foliage, — that 
the  last  autumn  winds  had  made  a  clean  sweep,  and  we 
were  alone  again.  Those  very  artemisias  that  made  such 
fair  show  in  Miss  Easy's  garden — the  last  time  they  had 
bloomed  she  had  been  there  to  look  at  them  ! 

We  could  not  but  feel  it  all ;  and  yet  the  feeling  was 


302  DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS. 

more  quiet  and  grave  than  sorrowful.  "  The  world  passeth 
away,  and  the  glory  of  it ;  but  the  word  of  our  God  shall 
stand  forever." — That  ought  to  be  joy  enough  to  gild  faded 
hopes  and  changing  prospects,  even  as  does  the  sun  of 
October  its  dying  foliage. 

And  as  we  had  now  less  to  do  with  other  people,  so  had 
we  more  love  and  interest  for  the  few  that  with  joined 
hands  kept  our  little  circle  unbroken.  The  fountain  of  our 
affections  had  been  shut  in  till  it  had  grown  deeper  than  I 
liked  to  think  of. 

With  what  a  rough  hand  does  the  world  giv^e  advice  and 
consolation  ! 

Mrs.  Willet  had  taken  a  sudden  fancy  during  her  last 
visit  for  the  season,  that  I  should  go  back  to  town  with  her. 
She  urged  the  point  a  good  deal,  but  I  did  not  incline  to  go, 
— I  could  ill  be  spared  at  home,  and  felt  quite  sure  that  I 
should  enjoy  myself  so  much  nowhere  else.  Of  course  all 
my  reasons  were  not  declared.  When  she  was  going  away 
however,  she  would  let  no  one  follow  her  to  the  door  but 
me,  and  there  turned  about  to  press  her  request  still 
fu  rther. 

Again  I  said  no. 

"  But  my  dear  Grace,"  said  Mrs.  Willet,  "  I  know  it's 
very  natural  for  you  to  like  to  be  at  home,  with  your  dear 
mother  and  sister  and  all  that ;  but  I  don't  think  it's  good 
for  you — it's  not  well  to  grow  too  fond  of  one's  friends, — 
you  ought  not  to  indulge  yourself  in  it.  The  heart  becomes 
so  bound  up  in  one  little  centre — it  does  not  prepare  one 
for  life.  And  however  we  may  cherish  and  value  our  friends, 
we  cannot  hinder  the  course  of  events — you  know  my  dear 
you  cannot  hope  to  keep  them  always." 

I  stood  silently  holding  the  door  in  my  hand,  with  that 
restless  spring  of  love  and  tears  roused  from  its  momen- 
tary quiet  by  her  last  words — she  might  have  said  anything 
else  !     Did  I  not  know  it  ? — ah  how  well  ! 

I  attempted  no  reply,  and  Mrs.  Willet  guessing  perhaps 
that  she  had  said  too  much,  tried  to  huddle  up  matters. 

"  Well,  well,  my  dear — I  didn't  mean  to  trouble  you, — 
but  you  know  1  should  so  much  like  to  have  you  with 
me." 

After  such  a  reminder !  she  had  taken  away  every  pos- 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  303 

sible  inclination  that  I  could  have  had.  O  no  ! — if  I  could 
not  keep  them  always,  let  me  keep  them  now ! 

During  the  course  of  this  fall  our  replevin  business  was 
settled,  finally  and  satisftictorily.  Moreover  Mr.  Howard 
had  at  last  succeeded  in  arranging  matters  with  Mr.  McLoon 
about  the  property,  of  which  a  division  had  been  made, — 
Mr.  McLoon  taking  a  certain  portion  for  the  amount  of 
purchase  money  that  was  yet  due.  We  were  not  quite 
clear  of  him,  either, — there  was  a  something — we  could  not 
exactly  tell  what — about  which  my  flither  frequently  went 
to  consult  Mr.  Phibbs.  It  seems  that  Mr.  McLoon  had 
formerly  held  a  mortgage  upon  some  property  belonging  to 
my  fjither,  (worth  twice  all  the  encumbrances),  and  that  he 
might  the  sooner  get  his  money  my  father  agreed  to  have 
the  property  sold.  And  at  a  time  when  Mr.  Howard 
was  away  the  lots  were  put  up  for  sale,  all  in  one  parcel, 
and  bought  in  by  Mr.  McLoon, — for  a  less  sum  however 
than  the  amount  of  his  claim.  Whereupon,  not  content 
with  the  lots,  he  turned  about  and  sued  Mr.  Howard  upon 
the  bond  and  entered  up  a  judgment.  Of  course  defensive 
measures  were  undertaken  on  our  part,  and  the  judgment 
now  sat  almost  as  light  upon  my  father's  mind,  as  the  un- 
righteous claim  upon  his  conscience, — so  far  as  we  could 
see,  it  gave  him  no  particular  uneasiness.  Still  the  mere 
raising  of  such  questions  gave  us  a  feeling  of  uncertainty, 
of  unsettledness ;  and  there  was  nothing  to  wear  it  off. 
When  our  two  boys  had  gone  home  for  the  holidays,  we 
were  left  in  unbroken  quiet. 

"Sometimes  one  enjoys  everything  less  on  such  a  day." 
— My  flither  had  said  true*  and  we  had  proved  it.  In  all 
that  bright  Christmas  there  was  nothing  but  contrast — never 
did  sun  throw  such  shadows, — it  was  hard  to  look  at  any- 
thing else.  And  the  still  Newyear's  day,  without  a  visiter 
now — for  the  world  stands  off  from  poverty  as  if  it  had, 
like  truth,  "the  plague  in  its  house" — gave  us  time  and 
occasion  to  think  of  the  three  friends  who  would  have  drawn 
the  closer  to  us  for  all  our  troubles, — Mr.  Ned  Howard, 
Miss  Easy,  and  Mr.  Collingwood. 

My  first  thought  that  morning  was  of  them ;  and  then 
I  remembered  that  Time  was  playing  a  tune  for  all  men  to 
dance   to — and  lay  in  bed  pertinaciously.     And  when    I 


304  DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS. 

came  down  to  breakfast  and  answered  my  father's  greeting, 
it  was  with  eyes  that  dared  not  look  up,  lest  he  should  see 
the  tears  in  them. 

Not  such  was  the  mood  of  the  outer  world.  Bright 
icicles,  and  long  blue  shadows  across  the  snow-covered 
lawn;  and  the  more  prussian  blue  sky,  with  a  few  white 
clouds ;  and  little  whirling  simooms  of  snow,  raised  by  a 
most  freaky  Avind. 

Kate  and  I  stood  looking  out  when  the  sun  had  hid  his 
face  behind  the  woods,  and  a  little  train  of  gold-coloured 
clouds  were  reversing  the  custom  of  French  courtiers,  and 
quitting  their  master  without  the  '"'grand  coucher.'''  The 
gleam  on  the  distant  hill-tops  shone  brightly,  but  the  lake 
was  in  shade;  and  the  tired  skaters  had  most  of  them  dis- 
mounted and  were  returning  slowly  to  the  shore.  The  ice, 
cold  and  unmelting,  stretched  away  in  the  distance,  but  im- 
mediately in  front  of  us  there  was  a  fine  air-hole — the 
water  as  motionless  as  the  ice  itself.  Between  the  trees, 
as  we  caught  here  and  there  a  glimpse,  it  was  of  a  gold- 
ribbed  blackness  ;  but  a  fine  reddish-purple  ran  in  among 
the  ice-promontories,  which  stood  out,  sharp,  and  clean- 
cut,  into  the  bright  water.  On  the  lawn  the  snow  was  of  a 
dead  white  ;  neither  shadow  nor  gleam  lay  there, — no  wish, 
no  discontent ! 

"  Dear  Kate !"  I  said  when  we  had  stood  for  some  time 
in  silence,  "  I  am  so  sorry  I  had  nothing  to  give  you  to-day  ! 
I  meant  to  have  made  something,  and  after  all  I  could  not 
seem  to  find  time." 

"  And  dear  Gracie  !  I  am  very  glad  that  you  did  not 
try — you  have  been  too  busy  indeed  !  We  do  not  need  to 
make  presents  to  each  other  to  show  our  love." 

"  No,  but  still  it  is  pleasant,  if  one  could.  O  I  have  «i 
great  mind  I — no  you  would  not  care  for  it,  either." 

"For  what?"  said  Kate  smiling.  "I  shall  care  for  any- 
thing you  choose  to  give  me." 

"  No,  for  it's  not  worth  having — it's  only  my  dream."     • 

"  Let  me  hear  it  by  all  means." 

"O,  you've  heard  it, — don't  you  remember  what  I 
dreamed  that  night  when  Mr.  Eodney  came  home,  and  I 
lay  on  the  sofli  ?  do  you  recollect?" 

"  Yes," — she  said  with  a  quick  change  of  colour. 


DOLLARS  AXD   CENTS.  305 

"  Well  I  took  it  into  my  head  to  tack  rhymes  to  it,  and 
see  what  it  would  look  like  then." 

"  And  where  is  it  ?"  said  Kate  leaning  her  head  upon 
mine." 

"  O  in  my  strong  box.  But  it  only  came  into  my  head 
because  I  wanted  to  give  you  something." 

"  I  must  have  it  Gracie — I  want  to  see  it  very  much. 
Run  and  get  it  for  me." 

"  No  need  to  run,"  I  said  laughing,  "  for  the  box  is  here, 
luckily.  Now  you  shall  not  go  away — you  shall  sit  just 
where  you  were  when  I  was  dreaming.  Ah  if  you  had 
seen  yourself  then  you  wouldn't  wonder." 

And  seating  her  before  the  fire,  I  stood  behind  her  play- 
ing with  her  hair  while  she  read. 

Katie,  I  dreamed  again 

We  were  forsaken  ; — 
Friends,  fortune,  company — 
Nothing  was  left  but  thee. — 

Yet  was  I  happy  then — 
Thou  wert  not  taken ! 

Still  in  the  wreck  of  all 

Shone  thy  smile  clearer, — 
Still  thou  wert  all  my  own  ; 
Still  did  thy  gentle  tone 

Make  other  losses  small — 
Thou  so  much  dearer  I 

Kor  do  I  cling  to  thee 

Only  in  seeming.  ♦ 

Sister,  thy  presence  fills 
Some  of  the  sweetest  rills 

Flowing  through  life  to  me. — 
Kate — was  I  dreaming  ? 

She  had  not  finished  when  Mr.  Howard  called  me  to  look 
for  something  he  wanted,  and  it  was  some  time  before  I 
could  return  to  the  sitting-room.  Kate  was  alone  there 
still,  in  the  easy-chair  with  her  back  to  the  window.  She 
was  leaning  her  head  upon  her  hand ;  but  as  I  came  up  she 
put  one  arm  round  me,  and  drawing  me  down  to  her  lap 
made  my  head  the  resting-place  for  hers. 

'•  Well,"  I  said,  putting  my  arms  about  her  in  turn, 
"don't  you  think  I  am  a  fine  dreamer? — did  you  ever  have 
such  a  valuable  Newyear's  present  before]" 

She  made  me  no  answer,  except  by  laying  her  lips  in- 
stead of  her  cheek  upon  my  forehead. 


306  DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS. 

"  Ah  Katie  !"  I  said  laughing,  "  you  shall  not  get  off  so  ! 
— you  must  give  ine  most  particular  and  explicit  thanks, 
now,  while  I  sit  here." 

"  I  fear  I  shall  never  be  able  to  give  them,  Gracie." 

"  Why  what  is  the  matter  V  I  exclaimed  trying  to  raise 
my  head.     "Has  that  poor  dream  troubled  you  again  .^" 
.    "Troubled  me? — it  gave  me  a  great  deal   of  pleasure 
dear." 

"  But  you  don't  answer  me — has  it  troubled  you  1  O 
Katie,  how  could  it !"  I  said  sorrowfully,  for  I  felt  that  my 
forehead  was  wet  with  her  tears. 

"  How  could  it  trouble  me '?"  she  said  after  a  while, — "  it 
made  me  think  that  you  love  me  a  little  too  much  Gracie 
— that  was  all." 

"  I  can't  love  you  too  much — possibly  ! — what  makes 
you  say  that?  Aren't  you  well  f  I  exclaimed,  raising  my- 
self up  with  a  sudden  feeling  of  paleness  and  sickness. 

"  Yes — my  dear  child  !  yes  ! — peifectly  well.  Why 
Gracie  how  you  look  at  me  !  Lay  your  head  down  again — 
what  has  troubled  you  so,  love?  1  assure  you  that  your 
dream  gave  me  a  great  deal  of  pleasure." 

"  You  have  just  been  making  yourself  sad  with  thinking 
of  old  times,"  I  said  sighing,  "  and  no  wonder." 

"  Don't  you  make  yourself  sad  with  thinking  of  any- 
thing," said  Kate  kissing  me. 


DOLLARS  AND   CENTS.  '807 


CHAPTER   XXXII. 


Then  top  and  maintop  crowd  the  sail, 
Heave  care  o'er  side ! 

And  large,  before  enjoyment's  gale, 
Let's  tak'  the  tide. 


Burns. 


WE  were  in  some  danger  of  growing  sad,  all  round,  in 
this  deep,  reminding  quiet  of  winter ;  and  were  really 
glad  when  the  holidays  were  over, — glad  to  have  ourselves 
roused  up,  even  by  noise  and  confusion. 

Archie  and  Candlish  came  back  repotentized  with  both. 
It  had  always  been  a  hard  matter  to  make  them  let  the  cat 
alone,  but  now  it  seemed  impossible.  No  sooner  did  an 
inch  of  fur  make  its  appearance,  than  Candlish's  left  hand 
shot  out  beyond  his  right  with  great  velocity,  accompanied 
with  a  loud 

"Me-ow!  S-fitz!"— 

At  which  unearthly  sound  Purrer-puri^er  would  give  her 
tail  to  the  winds,  and  scamper  off  as  if  she  had  been  a  kit- 
ten. It  was  of  little  use  to  remonstrate, — promises  were 
made  in  abundance,  but  if  one  boy  remembered  the  other 
was  sure  to  forget. 

"Now  what  harm  does  it  do,  Miss  Kate?"  Archie 
would  say, — "  and  it's  such  fun  to  see  her  put  round  the 
house." 

"Put  what?"  said  Mr.  Howard. 

"  The  cat,  sir — I  say  it's  such  fun  to  see  her  put  round 
the  house," 

"  And  I  say,  put  what  1" 

"I  didn't  say  put  anything,  sir." 

"  That's  the  very  thing  I  complain  of" 

"  O — "  said  Archie,  "  you  mean — yes,  I  remember. — But 
^ow  Mr.  Howard  why  isn't  that  good  English  ?" 


308  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

"  Why  aren't  you  a  Dutchman  V  said  my  father. 

"  Mamma,"  said  Kate  one  morning  as  we  sat  at  work, 
"  are  we  making  any  headway  by  means  of  this  teaching 
business  f 

''  Hardly — there  are  so  many  ends  to  be  brought  up.  It 
is  an  important  help  certainly,  but  we  cannot  live  on  it 
long,  if  other  means  fail  as  fast  as  they  have  done  for  the 
last  year." 

"  I  shall  have  to  go  back  to  my  old  plans,"  said  Kate, — 
"  we  must  get  some  maps  to  colour.  Why  Wolf!  what  is 
the  matter  ?" 

Wolfgang  had  suddenly  roused  himself  out  of  sleep,  and 
was  expressing  some  unknown  sentiments  by  a  very  gruff 
kind  of  breathing. 

"  Poor  dog !"  said  Kate  patting  him,  "  why  don't  you  lie 
still  f 

He  gave  her  such  a  smile  as  a  dog  could,  and  lowered  his 
ears  in  acknowledgement  of  her  hand ;  but  in  a  moment 
they  were  raised  again,  and  with  one  bound  he  was  at  the 
door.  It  needed  not  his  eager  whine  to  bring  us  there  too, 
nor  to  explain  the  light,  quick  footstep  which  reached  it  at 
the  same  moment  on  the  outside, — it  was  Mr.  CoUingwood 
himself! 

O  how  glad  we  were  to  see  him ! — too  glad,  for  we  were 
nearer  crying  than  laughing. 

He  had  but  a  few  hours  to  spend  with  us  he  said ;  but 
some  business  matters  had  brought  him  so  near  that  he 
could  not  resist  the  temptation  of  coming  for  those  few. 
And  we  talked  through  the  rest  of  that  short  day  with  a 
degree  of  happiness  and  sadness  that  seemed  a  summary  of 
the  past  year ;  and  poor  Wolfgang  said  what  he  could,  nor 
was  the  least  eloquent  of  the  party,  as  he  sat  with  one  paw 
on  his  master's  knee  or  sometimes  as  a  great  favour  in  his 
hand. 

Mr.  Rodney's  words  were  like  the  fresh  evening  air  to 
one  who  has  borne  "  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day."  He 
told  us  of  his  occupations,  his  plans,  his  prospects ;  and 
gave  us  full  sympathy  for  all  our  difficulties  without  once 
alluding  to  them ;  but  his  look  and  tone  would  oflen  bear 
no  other  interpretation.  With  full  eyes  we  sometimes  ac- 
knowledged their  gentle,  beguiling  power — I  wondered  too 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  309 

how  he  could  know  so  well  all  we  had  felt, — had  he  heard, 
or  did  he  see  ? 

It  was  with  a  changing  expression  of  face  that  he  looked 
on  as  Candlish  came  bounding  into  the  room,  and  then  sub- 
siding a  little  at  sight  of  the  stranger  knelt  down  by  Kate, 
with  a  whispered  entreaty  that  she  would  explain  some- 
thing. The  seat  next  her  was  taken  in  a  moment,  and 
gently  withdrawing  the  book  from  her  lap,  Mr.  Rodney 
said, 

"Suppose  you  let  me  play  the  part  of  assistant  for  to- 
day.    What  is  this  knotty  question  ]" 

Candlish  looked  up  in  some  surprise. 

"  Miss  Kate  can  explain  it,  indeed  sir." 

"  1  have  not  the  slightest  doubt  of  that,"  said  Mr.  Rod- 
ney. "  But  isn't  it  a  possible  thing  for  Miss  Kate  to  get 
tired?" 

"  I  don't  believe  she  ever  got  tired  helping  me,"  said 
Candlish  affectionately. 

'•  She  hasn't  had  a  chance  to-day,"  said  Kate  as  she  held 
out  her  hand  for  the  book. 

But  Mr.  Rodney  gave  her  no  answer  except  a  smile;  and 
with  one  arm  drawing  the  boy  a  little  nearer  to  his  side,  he 
again  inquired  what  he  wanted  to  know^  ] 

And  Candlish,  reassuring  himself  with  another  look, 
dashed  off  into  the  midst  of  his  difficulties. 

Neither  Kate  nor  I  was  suffered  to  look  at  a  study-book 
that  day  ;  but  I  really  thought  the  little  learners  found 
hard  passages  for  the  mere  pleasure  of  having  them  ex- 
plained. 

"  Isn't  it  a  possible  thing  for  Mr.  Rodney  to  get  tired  ?" 
said  Kate  when  one  of  the  many  intrusions  had  come  to  an 
end. 

"  Not  when  you  are  his  alternative." 

"But  we  are  so  used  to  it,"  I  said, — "  there  is  no  need 
of  your  troubling  yourself  Mr.  Rodney." 

"  Used  to  it ! — I  am  only  choosing  the  least  of  two  kinds 
of  trouble,  Gracie." 

Nobody  would  have  imagined  that  it  was  any  trouble  at 
all. 

Even  that  day  could  not  linger  beyond  its  appointed 
time.     But  how  sorry  we  were  to  see  the  sun  set !  and  we 


310  DOLLARS  AXn   CFjVTS. 

enjoyed  the  twilight  with  a  kind  of  accelerated  pleasure. 
The  boys  were  at  their  lessons,  my  father  writing  business 
letters,  and  IMrs.  Howard  had  gone  to  order  tea. 

"And  you  are  not  weary  of  your  charge?"  said  Mr. 
Rodney,  looking  from  Wolfgang's  upturned  eye  to  us. 

"  O  no,"  said  Kate, — "  you  cannot  think  what  a  comfort 
he  has  been  to  us.  He  has  seemed  almost  the  only  friend 
we  had,  sometimes." 

"  My  dear  Miss  Kate  ! — I  am  glad  you  say  '  almost'.  " 

"  But  he  has  missed  you,"  I  said — "  he  never  looks  so  at 
us." 

"  He  has  his  own  chain  of  remembrance  and  association, 
I  suppose,"  said  Mr.  Collingwood  sadly, — "  I  am  perhaps 
such  a  link  to  him  as  he  is  to  me.  It  is  a  great  comfort  to 
know  that  Wolfgang  is  so  tenderly  cared  for — if  it  were 
only  for  the  sake  of  the  friends  he  used  to  have." 

"You  have  not  been  to  the  Bird's  Nest,  Mr.  Rodney," 
said  Kate  presently. 

"  Yes,  I  came  that  way  this  morning." — 

And  silently  our  thoughts  had  gone  there,  and  were 
viewing  it  as  it  appeared  when  we  stood  on  some  of  the 
stepping-stone  years  that  we  had  passed  over ;  when  Andy 
put  his  head  in  at  the  door  and  said, 

"  If  ye  plase  Miss  Kate — thin  it  was  Caddie  should  ha' 
tolt  ye  and  wouldn't !" 

"Told  us  what?" 

"  Misther  Carvill  Miss, — ^he  says  would  ye  be  afther  let- 
tin  him  have  the  dog  now  or  w^ill  he  take  him,  he  says, 
Miss." 

"  Ask  Mr.  Carvill  to  walk  in,"  said  Kate. 

"  Carvill !"  repeated  Mr.  Collingwood  in  a  tone  of  utter 
amazement. 

I  threw  some  light  wood  on  the  fire  but  at  first  it  only 
smoked,  and  the  room  was  not  fairly  lit  up  till  Mr.  Carvill 
had  been  in  it  some  moments, — his  salutation  was  scarce 
visible. 

"  You  see  young  ladies,"  he  said  as  he  advanced,  his 
words  gathering  emphasis  from  Wolfgang's  growl ; — "  I  must 
have  the  dog  this  time,  I  really  can't  do  without  him — so 
it's  no  use  to  debate  the  point.  Just  let  him  go  quietly 
without  any  fuss,  and  I'll  answer  all — Hey  ! — what  the — 


DOLLARS  AXD   CENTS.  311 

Rodney !  you  here  !  where  in  the  name  of  all  the  constel- 
lations did  you  come  from?" 

"From  under  some  more  benign  star  than  Sirius,  I 
hope,"  said  Mr.  Rodney  as  he  came  forward  and  extended 
his  hand. 

"  Deuce  take  your  ears  and  my  tongue !"  muttered  Mr. 
Carvill  with  a  very  dubious  return  of  the  proffered  greeting. 

"  But  where  did  you  come  from  V  asked  Mr.  Rodney  in 
his  usual  pleasant  tone.  "  What  do  you  expect  to  find  in 
the  snow  at  this  time  of  year?" 

"Deer."— 

"Deer?  you're  too  late  for  that,  unless  I  have  forgotten 
the  state  game-laws." 

"  I  haven't  forgotten  them,"  said  Mr.  Carvill,  "  for  I  never 
knew  them  and  don't  want  to  now.  I  came  on  business, 
and  since  you  are  here  I  suppose  there'll  be  no  more  trouble 
about  it." 

"No  more  trouble?"  said  Mr.  Rodney  with  some  em- 
phasis. 

"  Well — call  it  what  you  M-ill — I  never  wanted  to  have 
any  words  with  them." 

"  Words  with  them  !" 

The  manner  was  emphasis  enough. 

"Confound  it!"  said  Mr.  Carvill  impatiently,  "I  sha'n't 
stand  here  to  be  catechised  about  all  I  ever  said  or  did  ! — 
you  may  ask  anybody  else  you've  a  mind  to.  So  I  shall 
just  take  the  dog  with  me  andj^id  you  good  evening." 

"By  your  leave,  no,"  said  his  brother. 

"  No ! — what  do  you  mean  by  that  ?  you're  not  going  to 
stay  here  yourself?"  said  Mr.  Carvill  with  a  look  of  rather 
keen  inquiry. 

"  I  am  not  indeed." 

"  Then  what  do  you  mean  by  saying  no  ?" 

"  Not  a  very  hard  word  to  understand,  is  it  ?"  said  Mr. 
Rodney  smiling.  "  I  mean  that  I  cannot  think  of  taking 
Wolfgang  from  such  good  quarters  as  he  is  in  at  present." 

And  Wolfgang's  tail  gave  two  or  three  little  taps  on  the 
floor  by  way  of  approval. 

"  But  I  tell  you  1  want  him  man  ! — One  of  my  dogs  is 
lame,  and  I  can't  hunt  without  four." 

"  You  must  make  three  answer,  for  once." 


312  DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS. 

"  Why,  what  the  devil !"  said  Mr.  Carvill,  too  angry  to 
conventionalize  his  words, — "you  don't  mean  that  you  are 
going  to  refuse  me  just  to  please  one  of  those  girls 'r' 

I  had  never  seen  Mr.  Collingwood  look  so  displeased  ; 
and  he  stood  for  a  moment  with  compressed  lips  as  if  afraid 
to  trust  himself  to  speak.  But  then  he  said  very  gravely 
and  calmly, 

"I  am  quite  determined  on  this  point,  Carvill — my  rea- 
sons I  will  give  you  at  another  time, — immediately,  if  you 
wish,  but  not  here." 

"  You  are  a  confoundedly  impracticable  set,  altogether !" 
said  Mr.  Carvill,  colouring  in  spite  of  himself  before  that 
look  of  quiet  dignity,  and  all  the  more  angry  because  he 
felt  ashamed — ^"I  do  believe  you  are  bewitched  as  well 
as"— 

He  checked  himself — Mr.  Rodney's  quick  glance  might 
well  have  cut  short  any  insinuations — and  with  a  very  cav- 
alier bow  Mr.  Carvill  left  the  room.  Mr.  Rodney  followed, 
after  one  moment's  grave  thought. 

Kate  and  I  sat  looking  at  each  other  with  some  surprise 
and  concern. 

"  I  am  so  sorry  I  said  what  I  did  about  Wolfgang  !  I 
am  afraid  it  has  caused  all  this  mischief." 

"  Why  don't  you  speak  to  Mr.  Rodney  and  tell  him "?" 
said  I. 

"  If  I  can  get  a  chance — but  I  don't  want  to  speak  of  it 
before  papa,  he  likes  Mr.  Carvill  little  enough  now." 

Mr.  Howard  presently  came  into  the  room,  but  when  we 
told  him  that  Mr.  Rodney  had  gone  to  spend  a  little  time 
with  his  brother,  he  walked  back  to  the  study,  merely  re- 
questing to  be  called  when  tea  was  ready. 

Tea  waited  awhile;  and  then  thinking  that  perhaps  our 
visiter  would  take  that  meal  at  the  Lea,  we  had  just  seated 
ourselves  at  the  table  when  he  came. 

"  I  insisted  that  Mr.  Carvill  had  kept  you  prisoner,"  said 
my  father,  "  and  so  would  not  let  them  wait  any  longer." 

"  I  am  very  sorry  you  waited  at  all,  sir." 

There  was  a  little  of  the  weariness  of  sad  feeling  in  the 
voice,  that  made  me  sincerely  hope  Mr.  Carvill  might  not 
enjoy  his  tea. 

My  father  busied  himself  about  the  duties  of  the  table. 


DOLLARS  AXD   CENTS.  813 

"  You  see,"  he  continued,  "  a  man  is  never  too  old  to 
learn ;  and  1  have  got  some  entirely  new  ideas  upon  the 
subject  of  self-denial."' 

"  How  ] — for  pity's  sake — "  said  my  stepmoth#. 

"  In  a  long  talk  with  Kate  after  you  had  gone  to  bed  one 
night," 

"  I  hope  you  do  not  mean  to  monopolize  them  sir,"  said 
Mr,  Rodney, 

"  Papa,"  said  Kate  looking  up  somewhat  anxiously,  "you 
are  not  at  liberty  to  break  confidence — I  never  gave  you 
leave  to  repeat  what  I  said." 

"  My  dear  you  are  breaking  your  own  confidence.  No- 
body knew  that  it  was  anything  of  importance  till  you  told 
them.  If  you  will  keep  quiet  I  shall  not  say  what  you  said 
and  what  I  said — I  am  only  going  to  give  Mr.  Rodney  one 
or  two  absti-act  propositions." 

"  But  papa — you  do  not  mean — " 

"  I  will  tell  what  I  mean  Kate,  if  you  will  allow  me.  We 
were  debating  the  question  of  self-denial  Mr.  Rodney — how 
for  it  ought  to  be  carried,  and  so  on.  Whether  one  person 
is  bound  to  sacrifice  himself  for  another.  What  is  your 
opinion  f 

"  It  would  be  hard  to  give  one  upon  such  a  question  in 
the  abstract  Mr.  Howard." 

*'  Well,  for  instance,"  said  my  father — "  if  by  making 
myself  happy  I  make  you  miserable,  ought  I  n6t  to  make 
myself  miserable  and  you  happy  ]" 

"  Was  that  one  of  Miss  Kate's  propositions'?"  said  Mr. 
Rodney  smiling. 

"  Never  mind  whose  it  was^ — only  give  me  an  answer." 

"Nay  sir — one  wants  the  application  of  such  a  question. 
I  could  not  answer  it  without  knowing  who  '  you'  and  *  V 
stand  for." 

"  /  stand  for  the  Dutchman's  maxim,"  said  my  father — 
"  '  every  man  for  mineself,'  " 

"Why  papa,"  I  said,  "I  don't  see  how  anybody  should 
even  raise  such  a  question,  for  it  could  not  come  up  except 
among  people  who  truly  loved  each  other." 

"  How  will  you  get  round  the  facts  my  dearl  Kate  and 
I  did  raise  the  Question,  and  we  do  truly  love  several 
people." 

14 


314  DOLLARS  AND'  CENTS. 

"  But  it  seems  almost  a  contradiction  papa." 

"  Well,  contradict  it  in  turn  then — come,  where  lies  the 
fallacy  1" 

"  The  §ilng  couldn't  be,  you  know  papa." 

"  What  thing  couldn't  be  1  If  you  know  where  you  are, 
Gracie,  I  don't." 

"  Why  papa — take  Kate  for  instance — ought  she  to  do 
anything  to  make  herself  happy  if  it  made  me  miserable? 
is  that  what  you  mean  ?" 

"  That's  a  sufficiently  clear  statement  of  the  case,"  said 
my  father.     "  Well  Gracie  1" 

"  But  then  if  she  were  happy  I  couldn't  be  miserable." 

How  they  all  laughed !  till  1  felt  half  abashed. 

"  That  is  decidedly  the  best  solution  of  a  difficulty  I  have 
heard  this  winter  I"  said  my  father.  "  Gracie  my  dear,  you 
would  have  been  invaluable  at  our  conference.  I  hope  you 
are  satisfied  with  the  conclusion  Mr.  Rodney  V 

"  I  should  be  sorry  indeed  to  come  to  any  other,  sir." 

And  the  conversation  took  another  turn. 

"My  dear  Kate,"  said  my  father  laughing  and  going 
round  to  her  when  we  left  the  table,  "what  are  you  so 
grave  about  ?  I  am  sure  none  of  the  present  company  can 
suspect  that  any  of  their  requests  will  ever  make  you 
miserable." 

"  Ah  papa!  how  you  do  talk !" 

"  How  I  do  talk !  Well  go  you  off  and  talk  too,  while  I 
see  what  those  boys  are  about." 

"  An  acquaintance  of  mine  Miss  Kate,"  said  Mr.  Rodney 
with  a  smile,  as  he  followed  us  into  the  drawing-room, 
"  says  that  there  is  this  great  comfort  in  writing  to  a  friend 
who  knows  her  thoroughly, — if  perchance  there  is  a  word 
left  out  or  put  in,  or  another  illegible,  or  her  meaning  be 
but  half  expressed,  that  friend  has  a  clue  to  set  it  right. 
What  has  become  of  my  little  questioners  1  I  haven't  seen 
them  this  evening." 

"  O  their  appetites  wouldn't  abide  postponement,"  said  I 
laughing — "  they  had  tea  long  ago,  and  have  been  at  their 
lessons.     You  will  see  enough  of  them  by  and  by." 

"  Mr.  Rodney,"  said  Kate,  "  I  wanted  to  tell  you" — 

"  You  did  or  did  not  want  to  tell  me  ?"  said  he  smiling, 
for  Kate  hesitated. 


DOLLARS  AND   CENTS.  315 

"  You  must  not  think  anything  of  what  I  said  about 
Wolfgang, — we  like  very  much  to  have  him,  but  not  unless 
you  like  it  too." 

"  I  do  like  it.  I  should  not  send  him  to  the  Lea  in  any 
event — he  is  just  where  I  could  wish  him  to  be.  There — 
you  have  my  hand  upon  it." 

"  O  Miss  Kate  !"  exclaimed  both  the  boys  as  they  came 
m,  "  Mr.  Howard  never  gave  us  such  long  lessons  before  ! 
O  me !" 

"  Hi  !"— 

"I'm  just  about  tired  to  death!" 

"  You'll  recover  by  to-morrow  morning,"  said  Kate  laugh- 
ing. 

"  No  I  sha'n't !  Much  you  know  about  it.  Miss  Kate !  I 
don't  believe  you've  done  a  thing  to-day  to  tire  you.* 
You're  looking  just  as  well ! — and  not  a  bit  pale  to-night." 

"You  are  ever  so  little  of  a  fast  talker  Master  Candlish," 
said  Kate,  laying  her  hands  upon  the  little  face  that  was 
raised  very  benignly  towards  her. 

"But  you  understood  me."— 

"  How  much  you  look  like  your  sister,"  said  Kate. 

"  Where  did  you  ever  see  her  1  you  told  me  but  I  dis- 
remember." 

"  And  you  have  a  little  of  that  sort  of  forgetfulness  for 
my  instructions,  I  think,"  said  my  father  who  had  joined  us. 

"Because  I've  been  so  long  speaking  straight  to-day  sir,  I 
suppose  I  got  tired,"  said  the  boy  laughing,  and  then  colour- 
ing a  little  as  if  half  afraid  he  had  gone  too  far. 

"You  haven't  told  me  anything  about  this  same  sister  of 
yours  since  you  came  back,"  said  Kate. 

He  looked  up  again  as  bright  as  ever. 

"  Where  did  you  see  her  ?  and  didn't  you  like  her  very 
much  ?" 

"  I  saw  her  at  Mrs.  Egerton's — for  about  five  minutes." 

"  O  then  you  couldn't  tell.  But  we  didn't  see  her  either, 
this  time — she  isn't  at  home  now." 

"  Not  at  home  !  is  she  married?" 

"  O  no  !"  Archie  said  :  while  Candlish  opening  his  ey^es 
in  grave  astonishment,  exclaimed, 

'•  Why  Miss  Kate !  I  didn't  know  you  ever  thought  of 
such  things !" 


316  DOLLARS  AND  CENTS. 

This  tribute  to  Kate's  simplicity  was  honoured  with  a 
very  frank  burst  of  merriment.  Candlish  looked  somewhat 
confounded,  but  stood  his  ground. 

"  Well,  you  may  laugh !"  he  said,  the  hue  of  his  cheeks 
nearly  rivalling  Kate's,  "but  I  didn't!  She  never  talks 
about  such  things  as  other  girls  do,  nor  Miss  Grace  neither." 

"  Did  it  ever  occur  to  you,"  said  Mr.  Rodney,  with 
whom  the  boy  had  rather  taken  refuge,  "did  you  ever 
hear  what  'girls'  are  usually  called  after  they  have  grown 
up  ?" 

Candlish  looked  up  at  the  eyes  that  were  bent  so  kindly 
upon  him,  and  then  laughed  and  shook  his  head  as  if  his 
memory  were  a  very  treacherous  thing  indeed  ! 


DOLLARS  AND   CENTS.  317 


CHAPTER   XXXIII. 


Whence  are  youj  sir?     Has  the  porter  his  eyes  in  his  head,  that  he  givea 
entrance  to  such  companions?    Pray,  get  you  out.— Shakspeark. 


THE  pleasure  of  that  visit  left  a  long  after-glow ;  for  if 
we  felt  more  than  ever  the  loneliness  of  being  alone,  it  was 
something  to  look  forward  to  such  days  as  possible — it  was 
something  even  to  have  had  pleasure.  For  a  while  we 
were  very  quiet  and  happy,  and  were  fast  relapsing  into 
somewhat  of  the  old  peaceful  feeling.  Not  with  the  old 
bright  visions  and  enjoyments — that  could  not  be  ;  we 
had  been  too  closely  trimmed  to  venture  forth  many  buds 
or  flowers, — but  with  a  degree  of  negative  happiness  that 
the  trials  and  excitements  of  late  years  made  very  pleas- 
ant. We  began  to  think  that  apprehension  might  be  laid 
aside — that  the  world  had  done  what  it  wished  and  would 
now  leave  us  a  corner  of  the  wide  earth  uncontested ;  and 
when  Archie  and  Candlish  were  again  summoned  home  by 
some  great  family  occasion,  we  could  have  echoed  their 
parting  words,  that  "  we  had  had  such  a  nice  time  since 
the  holidays !"  We  could  live  after  any  fashion  if  only 
let  alone ;  and  the  winter  had  gone  off  on  its  smooth  run- 
ners, without  sleigh  bells  certainly,  but  yet  with  few  jars. 
We  were  just  at  the  end  of  February. 

"  The  pilgrims  came  to  a  delicate  plain  called  Ease,  but 
that,"  says  Bunyan,  "  was  but  narrow,  so  they  were  soon 
got  over  it.'' 

I  was  awaked  one  morning  just  as  the  day  began  to  dawn, 
by  a  knocking  at  the  front  door.  There  was  no  one  stirring 
in  the  house,  and  1  lay  still  for  a  minute  to  listen.  Again 
the  knock,  not  very  loud  but  very  distinct — what  could  it 
be  ?  I  raised  myself  on  my  elbow  and  tried  to  consider, 
with  a  curious  feeling  as  if  the  knock  needed  no  particular 


318  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

attention  and  might  die  away  of  itself — as  if  it  were  but  a 
visionary  part  of  the  twilight.  There  it  was  again,  softly 
as  before,  but  this  time  at  the  back  of  the  house.  Most 
unpleasantly  startled  I  crept  out  of  bed  and  going  to  my 
father's  door  tapped  gently — he  was  already  aroused ;  and 
I  went  back  with  all  quietness  that  I  might  not  wake  Kate. 
Was  it  the  cold  air  that  sent  such  a  chill  over  me  % 

I  heard  my  father  open  his  window,  and  call. 

"Who  is  there?" 

No  answer,  and  none  came  to  the  secoi^d  demand.  I 
well  remembered  that  when  I  was  a  child  a  messenger  had 
brought  us  tidings  of  sickness  and  death,  in  the  very  middle 
of  the  night;  and  now,  few  as  our  friends  were,  my  mind 
could  fix  upon  nothing  else.  But  what —  or  who — or  where  ? 
I  knew  whence  came  the  chill  now. 

By  this  time  Caddie  was  up,  and  had  gone  down  stairs. 
I  heard  her  returning,  and  throwing  on  my  wrapper  I  ran  out, 
and  looked  over  the  balusters  to  ask  what  was  the  matter. 

"O  Miss  Grace,"  said  Caddie,  speaking  low  and  with 
much  sorrow  and  interest,  "  wait  till  I  tell  ye !  it's  some- 
body from  Mr.  McLoon." 

For  a  moment  I  felt  relieved — then  came  the  strong 
instinct  of  self-preservation.  Nobody  could  come  for 
good  at  that  time  in  the  morning. 

"  Is  he  in  the  house,  Caddie  T 

"  No  Miss,  it's  in  the  piasy  he  is." 

"Then  fasten  the  door — Mr.  Howard  will  be  there  di- 
rectly." 

And  even  as  I  went  to  call  him  he  passed  me,  and  went 
swiftly  down  stairs. 

I  had  no  mind  that  any  encounter  should  come  off  with- 
out my  powerful  presence ;  so  dressing  myself  with  all 
"ste  and  stealthiness,  I  gave  one  glad  look  at  Kate's  closed 
yes,  listened  a  moment  to  make  sure  that  Mrs.  Howard 
was  not  up — a  fair  proof  she  was  not  awake — and  then 
tipped  my  way  down, — the  gladness  of  my  heart  thrown 
back,  and  the  sorrow  thrown  forward. 

My  father  was  in  the  kitchen,  exchanging  most  energetic 
remarks  through  the  window  with  the  man  in  the  "piasy"  ; 
who  sat  doggedly  up  against  the  house,  as  if  he  had  been 
part  of  the  clapboarding. 


DOLLARS  AND   CEXTS.  319 

Wolfgang's  attention  was  divided  as  impartially  as 
could  be  expected  ;  for  while  keeping  Mr.  Howard  close 
company  within,  his  keen  looks  and  deep  growls  towards 
the  piazza  seemed  to  say  that  his  heart  lay  there ;  and  the 
said  heart  now  and  then  relieved  itself  by  a  bark  that 
made  the  walls  ring.  At  any  other  time  I  should  have 
laughed  at  him,  and  I  came  near  it  as  it  was . 

Caddie  had  been  shut  out  with  the  intgjuder,  and  was 
flitting  about  the  piazza,  and  sending  encouraging  looks 
into  the  dark  kitchen  where  the  morning  light  was  trying 
to  make  its  way. 

"  1  order  you  to  leave  the  house,"  were  the  first  words  I 
heard. 

"And  I  sha'n't  go  till  I've  done  my  job,"  came  sourly 
from  the  clapboards. 

"  What  is  it  papal"  I  said  softly,  "  what  is  the  matter  1" 

"  That  fellow  McLoon  has  sent  a  sheriff  here  with  an 
execution.  If  he  comes  to  the  house  I'll  put  him  in  the 
lake !"  said  Mr.  Howard  with  a  fierce  reference  to  the 
absent  Mr.  McLoon,  his  voice  trembling  with  agitation  as 
he  paced  up  and  down  the  kitchen. 

I  laid  my  hand  on  his  arm. 

'■  Dear  papa !  please  do  not  speak  so — he  is  not  worth 
your  notice.  And  do  not  be  so  troubled — we  shall  not 
mind  anything  if  you  do  not.     Pray  keep  yourself  quiet." 

"  Whatl"  he  said,  stopping  and  looking  at  me. 

"  Pray  do  not  be  troubled,"  1  repeated, — "  can't  we  keep 
this  man  outi" 

"Keep  him  out!  yes!"  he  said  vehemently,  "if  I  had 
any  one  to  help  me  I'd  put  him  out  of  the  piazza !  You 
will  take  cold  my  child,"  he  added  eyeing  me,  for  I  was 
trembling  all  over,  "  there's  no  fire  yet — go  upstairs  Gracie, 
and  keep  yourself  warm." 

"  I  am  not  at  all  cold  papa — it's  not  that ;  I  would  much 
rather  be  here." 

"The  scoundrel!"  he  muttered,  taking  another  turn 
through  the  kitchen — "  when  he  has  no  more  right  to  the 
money  than  he  has  to  me !"  And  pausing  before  the  win- 
dow Mr.  Howard  repeated, 

"  I  order  you  to  leave  the  house." 

"  Yes — I  hear — "  said  the  man. 


820  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

"  Papa  I  wouldn't  talk  to  him,"  I  said.  "  We've  got  the 
doors  locked — he  can't  force  them  open.  Come  in  the 
other  room  papa,  and  I'll  make  the  fire — you  will  take  cold 
yourself." 

"No  my  dear  child,  no — ^I  am  perfectly  warm.  You 
had  better  go  in  there, — or  get  my  cloak  and  wrap  round 
you." 

"  I  don't  need  it  papa." 

The  sheriff  got  up  from  his  seat,  and  taking  out  pencil 
and  paper  he  began  to  note  down  all  that  he  could  see 
through  the  window. 

"  Can  he  do  that  T  I  asked. 

"  No,  of  course  not !"  said  my  father, — "  that  is  not  a 
proper  levy.  I  shall  go  out  and  tell  him  as  much,  and 
send  him  about  his  business." 

"01  wouldn't  go  out  there." — 

"  Why  not  ?"  he  said  kindly.  "  Don't  you  trouble  your- 
self Gracie — I'll  manage  everything,  never  fear — and  keep 
as  cool  as  a  cucumber.  Just  fasten  the  door  behind  me — 
no,  no,  old  boy — you  stay  here." 

I  kept  back  Wolfgang  and  shut  the  door ;  and  then  stood 
anxiously  awaiting  in  that  lireless  room  the  result  of  the 
conference.  Mr.  Howard  was  very  clear  and  decided,  the 
sheriff  cool  and  impertinent, — ^the  point  in  dispute  being 
whether  the  piazza  was  or  was  not  the  house.  The  sheriff 
maintained  that  he  had  got  in,  my  father  that  he  neither 
had  nor  should.  On  this  last  point  I  was  equally  resolved, 
and  took  another  look  at  the  bolt? 

This  was  neither  Mr.  Cross  nor  his  successor,  but  whe- 
ther head  sheriff  or  deputy  I  did  not  know.  He  had  a 
surly,  sneaking  look,  that  promised  no  fair  treatment  nor 
civility. 

"  Well,"  said  Mr.  Howard  in  conclusion,  "  I  tell  you  to 
go,  and  if  you  don't  go  I  shall  find  some  means  of  com- 
pelling you." 

And  with  that  he  re-entered  the  kitchen,  while  the  sheriff 
noted  down, 

6  kitchen  chairs. 

"  Is  Mr.  McLoon  here  himself  f  said  my  father,  opening 
the  door  far  enough  for  his  voice  to  go  out,  and  holding  it 
fast. 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  321 

*'  I  guess  he  is — he  come  down  'long  with  me  this  mora- 

And  apparently  relieved  by  this  reference  to  his  princi- 
pal, the  man  opened  the  piazza  door  and  shouted, 

"  Mr.  McLoon  1" 

A  merry  "  chick-a-dee-dee-dee  !"  came  back  to  us  from  an 
early  riser  of  a  black-cap.  It  was  clear  he  didn't  under- 
stand English ! 

"Mr.  McLoon !"— 

"I  reckon  he's  somewheres  round  amongst  the  trees," 
said  the  sheriff — "  he  can't  ha'  went  off;"  and  stepping  out 
on  the  door-stone  he  again  lent  both  eye  and  voice  to  the 
search. 

With  a  quick  foot  I  passed  my  father,  but  fearing  to  lose 
that  one  instant  I  signed  to  Caddie  who  was  before  me ; 
and  when  the  sheriff  turned  round  it  was  to  see  a  closed 
and  bolted  door.  He  was  outside  now,  "and  no  mis- 
take !" 

For  a  minute  he  looked  very  silly, — then  without  a  word 
he  marched  off  to  institute  a  personal  search  for  the  invis- 
ible Mr.  McLoon.  Was  ever  sound  so  pleasant  as  the 
crunching  of  the  frosty  ground  by  his  boots  !  I  could 
hardly  believe  my  senses.  Caddie  put  her  hands  on  her 
sides  and  laughed  as  if  she  had  found  a  gold  mine.  And 
retreating  into  the  citadel  we  fastened  everything  that 
could  be  fastened. 

"  Now  let's  have  breakfast  as  soon  as  we  can,  Caddie," 
said  I. 

"  Breakfast !  is  it  at  this  time  in  the  morning?" 

"  Yes,  as  soon  as  you  can,"  I  repeated. 

"  Ha,  ha  ?"— said  Caddie—"  breakfast,  hey  ?  And  what 
time  '11  ye  be  after  wanting  dinner  1" 

"  I  don't  know  about  that.  But  we  have  a  fine  quiet 
time  now  for  breakfast,  and  it's  not  best  to  wait." 

"  It's  a  fine  breakfast  they  meant  yees  should  have,"  said 
Caddie. — "There's  himself  agin!  Och!  *ye  ain't  good 
look  in  and  ye  can't  come  in  !'  " 

The  sheriff  peered  through  the  window  of  the  piazza,  and 
then  with  a  loud  voice  he  called  out, 

"  I  come  to  tell  you  that  I've  levied  upon  the  cow,  and 
you  ain't  to  do  nothing  with  her — and  upon  the  woodpile 

14* 


322  DOLLARS  AXD   CENTS. 

too,"  he  said,  turning  back  to  give  this  second  piece  of  in- 
formation. 

"  Very  well !"  said  my  father  with  a  nod  of  his  head 
that  promised  small  compliance. 

We  went  into  the  breakfast-room,  and  soon  had  a  bright 
fire  blazing ;  but  my  father  was  too  much  excited  to  sit 
down  or  even  to  warm  himself  He  walked  the  floor, 
nervously  biting  his  under  lip  and  seeing  X  Y  and  Z  in 
the  carpet :  sometimes  looking  out  of  the  window,  or  going 
into  the  kitchen,  with  now  and  then  an  interjection,  or  an 
absent  "  what  V  addressed  to  me.  And  I  sat  and  stood  by 
turns,  talking  or  entreating,  but  trembling  still, — for  a 
rough  hand  had  struck  the  keys,  and  the  wires  could  not 
cease  their  noiseless  thrilling. 

By  this  time  mamma  and  Kate  came  down;  and  we 
asked  and  told  and  consulted,  till  Caddie  brought  in  break- 
fast and  M^e  had  taken  the  brace  of  a  cup  of  hot  coffee. 

My  father  was  not  long  in  determining  that  he  must  go 
that  very  day  to  consult  Mr.  Phibbs. 

"  But  I  cannot  leave  you  here  alone,  either,"  he  said : 
"  those  men  might  come  back  again." 

"Very  well,"  said  Kate,  "let  them  come — they  won't 
get  in." 

"  Yes  but  I  can't  bear  to  have  you  subjected  to  all  this 
annoyance — you've  had  too  much  as  it  is.  Perhaps  wri- 
ting would  answer  every  purpose,  and  then  I  could  be  here 
to  deal  with  them." 

"  O  no,"  said  Mrs.  Howard,  "  I  wouldn't  trust  to  it ;  the 
post-office  is  not  always  regular.  And  if  they  should 
chance  to  come  again  I  would  much  rather  you  were  away 
than  here." 

"  But  you  must  have  some  one  in  the  house,  and  Andy 
has  a  week's  leave  of  absence." 

"  Get  John  Finigan." 

"  He  is  worth  little  enough — however  I  don't  suppose 
McLoon  will  attempt  violent  measures.  But  keep  the 
doors  shut." 

The  idea  of  telling  us  that! 

Mr.  Howar-d  went  off  to  take  the  first  stage;  and  we 
went  the  rounds  of  the  front  windows  and  doors,  and  then 
proceeded  to  the  kitchen  to  give  Caddie  her  instructions. 


DOLLARS  AXD   CENTS.  323 

Miss  Mclnn's  "tight"  little  figure,  habited  in  very  short 
petticoats  and  very  high  boots,  was  in  full  tide  of  business 
among  the  breakfast  dishes :  the  table  before  which  she 
stood  being  well  piled  with  them  ;  and  bearing  besides  a 
tub  of  water  of  which  the  temperature  might  be  guessed 
from  the  decided  pink  of  her  hands,  and  the  cloud  of 
steam  which  enveloped  her  head.  It  proved  itself  too  by 
the  clear  brightness  of  the  already  washed  and  dried  cups, 
and  by  the  very  small  portion  of  moisture  they  had  trans- 
ferred to  the  towels  which  hung  on  the  maiden  at  her  side. 
From  the  very  midst  of  the  cloud  of  steam  came  forth  in 
a  strange  buzzing  tone, 

"  There  lived  a  tailor  beyont  Athlone, 
And  he  had  nine  daughters  down  by  his  knee.'* 

"  Caddie,"  said  my  stepmother,  "  I  hope  we  shall  have 
this  matter  arranged  in  a  few  days,  but  until  it  is  we  must 
keep  shut  doors.  Don't  open  them  to  anybody ;  and  if 
you  have  to  go  out  yourself  call  one  of  us  to  stand  by  the 
door  till  you  come  back." 

"Then  it's  never  a  fut  one  of  'em  '11  set  in  here  Mrs. 
Howard !"  said  Caddie  turning  about,  and  stripping  the 
water  off  her  hands.  "  I've  seen  enough  of  'em,  the  vil- 
lains !  It's  me  ought  to  know  them,  for  the  times  I've  seea 
'em  at  home — in  the  ould  country." 

"  Seen  sheriffs  do  you  mean  V  said  Kate. 

"  Indeed  an'  I  do  5liss  Kate !  I've  seen  'em !  I  wouldn't 
doubt  but  they're  hiding  some  place  round  the  house  now, 
just ;  and  if  we'd  open  the  door  ever  so  little  it's  in  they'd 
be,  and  sorrow  a  bit  could  we  get  'em  out !" 

involuntarily  I  looked  to  the  door,  while  a  most  un- 
comfortable shiver  ran  over  me  from  head  to  foot.  I 
thought  of  Lady  Clonbrony's 

"Slide  in?  O  horrid!"— 

"  It's  many  a  time  I've  seen  'em !"  said  Caddie,  going  on 
with  her  enlivening  stories  and  the  dishes  at  once, — •*  long 
ago,  at  home — in  swate  county  Kerry  !  It'll  be  goin'  on 
twelve  year  agin  December  next,  sin  they  come  to  my 
father's  house  one  morning  afore  the  day.  And  ray  father 
was  laying  the  fire,  and  wasn't  dressed  itself  And  it's 
bitter  could  it  was.  and  snow  that  thick — and  we  childer 


324  DOLLARS  Am)  CEXTS. 

in  bed;  for  my  father  says  'Lie  still,'  be  says,  'till  the 
fire'll  burn,'  he  says.  And  then  them  niggers  giv  a  little 
knock  at  the  door — just  so  as  ye  wouldn't  hardly  hear  it — 
and  they'd  come  up  unbeknownst  on  account  of  the  snow 
being  on  the  ground,  ye  see.  Well  Miss  Kate  sure  eitough 
they  giv  this  knock,  and  little  Pat  (that's  sister's  son  to 
my  brother-in-law  Miss  Kate)  he  just  undid  it ;  and  my 
father  never  knew  a  hate  about  it  till  they  was  all  in,  and 
he  lighting  the  fire ;  and  the  turf  wouldn't  burn  ;  and  my 
father  says  '  Weary  on  it !'  he  says ;  and  then  he  just  looks 
about  and  there  they  was  all !" 

She  had  stopped  her  work,  and  with  excited  eye  and 
voice  had  gone  over  this  bit  of  her  experience  as  if  the 
whole  scene  were  present  before  her  ;  giving  the  last  few 
words  with  the  very  feeling  of  the  time. 

"  And  did  they  take  anything,  Caddie?"  I  asked. 

"  Troth  an'  they  did  Miss  ! — just  took  all  they  could  find 
but  a  bag  of  pertaters  that  was  hid  in  the  roof  out  of  sight ! 
*  And  isn't  it  some  of  the  childerye'd  be  afther  takinf  says 
my  father  says  he,  '  for  there's  nothing  in  life  for  'em  to  do 
here,'  says  he.  Shcat !"  exclaimed  Caddie  cutting  short 
her  account  with  a  sudden  sprin^towards  the  dutch-oven. 
"Then  Miss  Grace  that  cat's  intill  everything!" 

From  that  time  our  house  might  have  been  the  abode  of 
the  Koh-i-noor,  for  the  way  it  was  guarded.  A  casual 
observer  on  the  outside  would  have  thought  the  family  not 
at  home, — and  truly  I  thought  so  myself  It  was  a  strange 
kind  of  a  home!  Closed  doors,  and  quiet  movements,  and 
anxious  hearts ;  and  though  the  sun  got  leave  to  look  in  at 
the  windows,  it  was  across  a  visionary  shadow  of  Mr.  Mc- 
Loon  or  the  sour  sheriff.  Not  a  pail  of  water  could  be 
wanted  that  Caddie  did  not  come  and  say, 

"  Now  I'm  going  to  the  pump — if  one  of  yees  would  be 
plased  to  mind  the  door. 

And  then  generally  two  of  us  went.  For  ourselves  we 
were  afraid  to  venture  out  except  all  together,  lest  as  Kate 
said,  they  should  take  advantage  of  our  being  out  and  beset 
the  door. 

A  blockade  is  a  much  more  serious  affair  than  any  one 
would  suppose. 

No  doubt  we  concerned  ourselves  more  than  need  be, — 


DOLLARS  AM)   CENTS.  325 

perhaps  the  blockade  was  only  imaginary  ;  but  an  unseen 
danger  is  always  magnified,  and  who  would  venture  upon  a 
"  perhaps''  ?  We  knew  though  they  could  make  no  levy 
in  the  night-time,  they  might  try  to  get  a  man  into  the 
house  who  would  open  to  them  next  day — such  things  had 
been  done.  And  so  we  considered  ourselves  in  a  state  of 
siege,  and  saw  the  sun  set  and  the  darkness  come  that  first 
night  with  no  relief,  except  that  the  door  need  not  be 
opened  quite  so  often  as  in  the  day ;  and  then  sat  down  to 
our  work  with  that  old  feeling  of  limited  strength  and  un- 
limited resolution ! 

It  was  a  perfectly  still  evening.  The  winds  seemed 
asleep,  and  gave  only  now  and  then  the  faintest  of  mur- 
murs,— the  field  was  clear  for  any  sound  that  chose  to  take 
it.  Our  little  fire  modestly  asserted  its  existence,  and  Cad- 
die and  John  Finigan  asserted  theirs — by  a  dead  level  of 
talk.  But  their  tongues  grew  tired,  and  their  boots  creaked 
upstairs  to  bed,  and  the  field  was  clearer  than  ever. 

"  I  think  we  had  better  go  to  bed  too,"  said  my  step- 
mother. 

But  as  we  looked  up  to  give  our  assent,  there  came  a 
knock  at  the  front  door. 

How  our  eyes  met  and  our  hearts  trembled ! 

It  came  again.  Not  a  cheerful,  busy  rat !  tat !,  but  one 
solitary  rap,  beginning  and  ending  in  itself, — not  very  loud, 
not  energetic — it  just  announced — somebody. 

Kate  spoke  first,  and  softly. 

"  We  mustn't  open  the  door  mamma — it  may  be  a  trick 
of  those  people  to  get  in." 

Mrs.  Howard  took  the  light  and  proceeded  upstairs,  we 
following.  Invest  anything  with  a  hidden,  undefined, 
stealthy  character,  and  you  make  it  terrible ; — therefore  as 
we  went  we  trembled — at  that  simple  knock. 

Leaving  our  candle  in  the  hall  we  entered  one  of  the  dark 
bedrooms,  and  opening  a  window  Mrs.  Howard  inquired 
who  was  there  ] 

"  Is  Mr.  Howard  at  home  1"  said  a  voice,  while  a  man 
stepped  oft'  from  the  house  and  apparently  tried  to  see  us. 

"  No,"  said  my  stepmother. 

"Where  is  he f 

"  He  went  away  this  morning.'* 


326  DOLLARS  AND  CENTS. 

"  Do  you  know  when  he'll  be  back  V 

"  No,"  she  replied  again.     "  Who  wants  him'?" 

"  I  have  a  letter  from  Mr.  McLoon." 

My  stepmother  paused  a  moment,  and  then  simply  re- 
peated, 

'•  Mr.  Howard  is  not  at  home." 

The  man  waited  a  little,  shifting  his  weight  from  one  foot 
to  the  other  and  grinding  the  gravel  under  them — perhaps 
expecting  that  we  would  make  some  proposition, — then  he 
walked  off. 

"It's  nothing  in  the  world  but  a  trick!"  said  Kate — 
"  What  should  Mr.  McLoon  have  to  write  to  papa  at  this 
time  of  night  % — they  thought  we  would  open  the  door  and 
then  they  could  just  walk  in." 

"  Well,  we  are  safe  for  this  time,"  said  my  stepmother. 

"  But  mamma,"  said  Kate,  "  what  if  they  should  come 
again  1  and  if  Finigan  heard  them  he'd  maybe  go  and  open 
the  door  before  we  knew  anything  about  it." 

Mrs.  Howard  called  Caddie,  and  desired  her  to  tell  our 
guard  that  there  had  been  people  at  the  house  already,  and 
that  if  he  should  hear  any  more  raps  he  must  take  no  no- 
tice of  them. 

We  had  gone  to  bed,  and  sailing  off  on  the  sea  of  oblivion 
had  just  "  sunk"  Mr.  McLoon,  when  we  were  again  roused, 
— Caddie  and  Finigan  were  earnestly  consulting  or  dispu- 
ting across  the  passage  which  divided  their  rooms.  Mrs. 
Howard  sprang  up  to  see  what  was  doing,  just  as  Caddie 
presented  herself  at  our  door. 

"  What's  the  matter  now  1" 

"Meself  doesn't  know  ma'am — it's  John  Finigan  says 
it's  sick  he  is." 

"  Sick  f 

"  Then  he'll  never  be  killed  unknownst !"  said  Caddie  in 
a  parenthesis  of  contempt.  "  An'  sure  an'  if  ye  are  sick, 
says  I,  why  can't  ye  lie  still,  says  I,  and  not  be  wakin  all 
the  house,  says  I." 

"And  is  he  going  to  lie  still  1"  said  Mrs.  Howard. 
"  What  does  he  want  '\  what's  the  matter  with  him  f 

"  The  dear  knows  !  But  he  says  it's  home  he'd  like  to  be. 
An'  how  arc  ye  to  get  home,  says  I,  and  we  to  be  opening 
the  doors  for  yc,  says  I — and  the  master  away  too !" 


DOLLARS  AND   CENTS.  32T 

And  putting  her  arms  in  their  favourite  position,  Caddie 
laughed  comically. 

"  For  pity's  sake  let  him  go  if  he  wants  to !"  said  Mrs. 
Howard  again  getting  up.  "I  presume  he's  afraid  those 
people  will  come  back  ;  and  if  they  do  he  is  as  well  away 
as  here.  I'll  go  down  with  you  to  fasten  the  door  after  him 
— he  wouldn't  be  of  much  use  if  we  wanted  anything." 

"  It's  only  a  peel  in'  of  a  man  he  is,  any  way,"  said  Cad- 
die. "  Och  them  greenhorns  ain't  got  the  sense  of  Chi-is- 
tians !" 

They  fastened  the  door  after  the  deserter,  but  Mrs.  How- 
ard and  Caddie  both  affirmed  that  they  had  heard  other 
steps  on  the  walk ;  and  between  imagining  our  besiegers 
still  about  and  Finigan's  sickness  another  trick,  we  contrived 
to  fever  and  excite  ourselves  sufficiently. 

"  Suppose  we  let  Caddie  come  and  sleep  in  our  room, 
mamma,"  said  Kate. 

"  In  our  room  ]" 

"  Yes,  she  might  lay  her  bed  on  the  floor.  Don't  you 
think  we  should  feel  more  comfortable  ?" 

So  Caddie  took  up  her  mattress,  and  placing  it  in  the 
middle  of  the  room  where  we  were  all  together  that  night, 
she  presently  went  to  sleep  thereon.  Not  much  protection 
certainly, — but  those  sturdy,  round  arms  were  company  at 
least,  and  when  the  numbers  in  a  garrison  are  reduced  to 
feminine  units,  they  tell  best  together.  And  the  rest  of  the 
night  passed  without  disturbance. 

We  had  provisions  enough  to  enable  us  to  hold  out  for 
some  time — neither  did  the  enemy  attempt  to  invest  the 
pump :  so  fir  we  were  as  usual.  Finigan  was  not  again 
admitted  into  the  house,  but  Mr.  Howard's  return  saved  us 
from  being  quite  alone.  Still  no  measures  of  Mr.  Phibbs 
could  as  yet  have  taken  effect,  and  our  door-openings  con- 
tinued to  be  of  the  most  cautious — especially  when  my 
father's  place  was  supplied  by  Andy.  Every  window  that 
was  not  a  daily  ventilator  was  nailed  down ;  and  never  did 
we  open  a  door  at  all  without  a  most  careful  survey  of  its 
exterior  from  some  neighbouring  pane  of  glass.  I  presume 
we  were  much  more  ingenious  than  either  Mr.  McLoon  or 
his  agents, — I  doubt  whether  they  could  have  contrived  half 
the  surprises  that  we  did.     And  to  this  day  I  know  not  but 


328  DOLLARS  AND  CENTS. 

the  blockade  was  imaginary — ^nor  that  it  was.  It  made  no 
difference  in  our  discomfort  at  the  time, — it  was  very  real 
for  all  practical  purposes. 

"  I  don't  like  to  have  you  go  into  the  garden  alone,"  Kate 
would  say.  "They  might  just  take  advantage  of  your 
being  out,  and  station  themselves  at  the  door." 

"  They  shouldn't  get  in — if  I  staid  out  all  day !" 

"  But  that  would  not  be  pleasant." 

And  Mrs.  Howard  thought  "  we  had  better  stay  in,  or  go 
together."  "We  came  to  be  in  the  condition  of  Florence 
Dombey's  dog — with  "a  perpetual  unseen  enemy  round 
the  corner."  Our  own  dog  was  certainly  more  restless 
than  usual,  but  that  might  have  been  caught  from  us.  And 
if  ever  we  cooled  down  a  little,  Caddie  would  strike  in 
with, 

"Why  Miss  Kate,  I've  seen  'em  keep  watch  day  and 
night  round  a  house,  nor  never  lave  it  till  they'd  get  in !" 

Even  my  father  when  appealed  to  said  he  really  couldn't 
tell.  Mr.  Phibbshad  done  this  and  that — he  thought  there 
could  be  no  danger — but  he  had  been  so  often  deceived  and 
disappointed  by  law  and  lawyers  that  he  hadn't  much  con- 
fidence left  in  either.  What  gave  emphasis  to  his  words 
was  that  he  always  locked  the  door  himself.  And  so  bolts 
and  bars  were  kept  in  full  requisition. 

But  there  never  was  anything  so  wearisome!  the  con- 
stant fear — the  constant  mounting  guard — the  constant 
vision  of  danger,  hooded  and  cloaked, — we  were  half  tempt- 
ed to  run  away  and  leave  Mr.  McLoon  to  deal  with  an 
empty  house.  If  his  desire  had  been  our  discomfort,  it  was 
fully  accomplished, — he  did  not  know  how  well. 

Sunday  was  the  only  free  day  ;  and  it  was  a  perfect 
luxury  to  open  the  doors  and  air  the  house  of  its  prison-like 
feeling.  To  stand  in  the  doorways  with  careless  impunity 
— to  go  in  and  out  with  no  tremor.  It  was  long,  long 
before  the  experience  of  those  weeks  wore  off.  Even  when 
the  whole  aflliir  was  finally  disposed  of,  thei'e  lingered  in 
our  minds  an  association  with  open  doors  that  made  them 
disagreeable ;  and  many  a  time,  in  summer  weather,  have  I 
got  up  to  turn  a  key  or  draw  a  bolt,  and  then  breathed  freer ! 


DOLLARS  AXD   CENTS.  329 


CHAPTER   XXXIY, 


Now  sit  we  close  about  this  taper  here, 
And  call  in  question  our  necessities. 

SHAESPEA.RE. 


AND  so  we  lived  on ;  but  whether  or  no  Mr.  McLoon 
still  "  ticed"  round  among  the  trees,  he  did  not  again 
present  himself  at  the  house,  either  in  person  or  by  the 
sour-looking  sheriff.  Meanwhile  the  little  garrison  held 
many  a  debate — What  were  they  to  do  %  how  should  they 
livel 

Even  before  our  late  disturbance  my  father  had  de- 
termined not  to  have  Archie  and  Candlish  come  back.  "  It 
cost  more  than  it  came  to,"  he  said ;  "  and  what  we  wanted 
was  capital — not  interest."  Had  that  been  otherwise,  two 
such  little  door-openers  were  not  to  be  thought  of. 

"  But  what  will  you  do  then  V  said  Mrs.  Howard, — "  we 
must  get  money  in  some  way, — I  want  ten  dollars  for 
Caddie  at  once." 

My  father  expressed  his  sense  of  the  difficulty  by  one  or 
two  of  the  wordless  signs  of  emotion,  but  gave  no  further 
reply ;  and  breakfast  proceeded  rather  moodily.  It  was 
early  spring-time, — the  season  had  just  arrived  and  was 
setting  itself  to  work ;  and  the  sweetest  of  March  winds — 
they  are  sweet  in  the  country — was  blowing  off  what  it 
could  of  the  world's  dust. 

"  What  will  you  do  papa?"  said  Kate. 

"  Read  the  letters  I  guess,"  said  ]\Ir.  Howard  as  he  took 
up  those  which  Andy  had  just  laid  on  the  table,  and  moved 
his  chair  to  the  fire.  He  sat  reading  and  musing  for  a 
long  time  ;  and  then  handing  an  open  epistle  to  my  step- 
mother he  said, 


330  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

"  There  is  what  I  can  do,  if  I've  a  mind." 

"What  is  this?" 

"  A  letter  from  Mr.  Pelion  of  the Institute,  con- 
taining a  request  that  I  will  deliver  a  course  of  lectures  on 
American  history  for  the  benefit  of  the  young  ideas  under 
his  charge ;  and,  as  a  secondary  inducement,  for  my  own." 

"  At  this  time  of  year '?  I  thought  winter  was  the  lecture 
season." 

"  But  Mr.  Pelion  has  discovered  that '  young  ladies'  minds 
are  relaxed  by  the  enervating  spring  weather'— so  they'll 
be  the  fitter  to  understand  me  I  suppose." 

"  What  a  foolish  man  !"  I  said,  "  to  write  that, — he  might 
better  have  kept  his  opinions  to  himself." 

"  I  don't  care  for  his  opinions  nor  for  the  facts,"  said  Mr. 
Howard, — "  the  question  is,  is  it  worth  my  while  to  give  in 
to  his  plan.  It's  an  easy  enough  way  of  earning  money — 
and  the  money  would  not  be  thrown  away, — unless  the 
ears  of  the  young  ladies  have  shared  the  general  relaxa- 
tion." 

"  I  advise  you  to  do  it  by  all  means,"  said  my  stepmother. 
*'  \^  they  pay  you  well  you  would  not  find  it  a  disagreeable 
business." 

"  No,  not  at  all — neither  does  it  matter  about  that.  But 
there  is  one  great  difficulty, — I  should  be  almost  constantly 
away  for  two  or  three  months." 

"  But  then  papa,"  said  Kate  gently,  "  we  must  do  as  we 
can  you  know ;  and  consider  what  is  best  rather  than  what 
is  pleasant.  It  is  very  bad  to  have  you  away,  but  neither 
you  nor  we  could  be  comfortable  to  sit  quietly  here  and 
earn  nothing." 

"  I've  a  notion  something  would  start  us  up  pretty  quick 
if  we  did,"  said  my  father.  "  I  do  not  intend  to  stay  here 
in  idleness  Kate, — the  thing  is  how  to  leave  you  alone." 

"  Why  we  must  make  up  our  minds  to  stay  with  Andy, 
as  we  have  done  before,"  said  Mrs.  Howard. 

"  I  can't  think  of  that.  It  has  made  me  uncomfortable 
enough  when  I  have  been  away  for  two  weeks,  and  two 
months  is  another  affair.  And  besides,  now  I  think  of  it, 
Andy  wants  to  go  to  Canada  for  the  summer,  to  see  his 
sister  I  believe.  So  you  see  I  am  in  a  •  puzzle.  I  can 
neither  stay  at  home  nor  go  away." 


DOLLARS  AND   CENTS.  331 

"  Mamma,"  said  Kate,  after  our  minds  had  several  times 
made  the  tour  of  circumstances ;  "  wouldn't  it  be  almost 
worth  while  for  us  to  get  board  somewhere  for  the  time 
papa  wants  to  be  gone  f 

"Very  well  worth  while  indeed,  Katie,  if  we  could;  but 
I  shouldn't  know  where  to  apply." 

"  There's  Mrs.  Shelton's,  at  the  Moon,"  said  my  father. 

"  That  would  cost  too  much.  And  our  wardrobe  is  not 
quite  in  order  for  any  such  place." 

"  Mrs.  Harrington  !"  cried  I ;  "  wouldn't  she  take  us  ?  and 
there  we  should  be  near  enough  to  see  our  gardens  once  in 
a  while." 

"  Why  that  is  a  brave  thought,  Gracie,"  said  Kate, — "  I 
daresay  she  would,  for  their  house  has  much  more  room  in 
it  than  they  can  use." 

I  thought  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Howard  looked  at  us  a  little 
wistfully  when  this  plan  was  proposed ;  but  it  seemed  fea- 
sible :  and  as  my  stepmother's  eye  went  back  to  him  with 
a  smile  that  said  "  we  must  not  mind  trifles," — my  father 
raised  no  objection,  and  promised  to  see  Mrs.  Barrington 
that  very  day. 

"  Here's  another  letter  that  deserves  some  attention,"  he 
said  ;  "  one  too  that  I  ought  to  have  got  long  ago.  Those 
books  of  brother  Ned's  have  been  boxed  up  and  forwarded 
to  me  from  Baltimore,  with  the  trunk  I  left  there  and  some 
other  matters.  I  suppose  they  have  been  at  Ethan  for 
these  two  weeks.     I  must  see  after  them  first  of  all." 

But  Mr.  McLoon  had  been  beforehand  with  us.  Having 
by  some  means  found  out  that  a  little  of  our  property  was 
lodged  in  the  stage-office  at  Ethan,  his  first  thought  was 
that  he  wanted  it,  his  second  to  send  the  sheriflT  to  make  a 
levy ;  and  when  my  father  applied  for  his  boxes  the  office- 
man  was  "  very  sorry,  but  he  had  been  ordered  not  to  let 
them  be  taken." 

People  do  sometimes  run  so  fast  that  they  fall  down ; 
and  Mr.  McLoon,  forgetting  that  the  county-line  went  just 
this  side  and  not  beyond  Ethan,  had  fairly  given  the  sheriff 
a  job  out  of  his  jurisdiction.  The  levy  was  easily  set  aside ; 
but  not  without  another  journey  to  Mr.  Phibbs,  not  without 
an  unnecessary  increase  of  our  scrutinizing  and  watchful 
anxiety, — during  those  few  days  the  blockade  was  redoubled. 


S32  DOLLARS  AXD   CE27TS. 

We  began  to  think  with  pleasure  of  being  rid  of  it  at  least 
for  the  summer.  Mr.  Phibbs  would  fain  have  had  us  rid 
of  it  at  once.  Everything  was  arranged  he  said,  and  except 
the  occasional  service  of  a  paper  there  was  nothing  more  to 
do.  Byt  when  Mr.  McLoon's  whole  claim  was  such  as  no 
man  of  honour  could  have  urged,  who  would  trust  him  for 
the  means  he  might  use  to  further  it  V 

Mrs.  Barrington  was  more  than  willing  to  take  us  into 
her  house, — her  only  doubt  being  that  it  was  "  a  poor  sort 
of  a  place";  but  we  agreed  to  supply  any  deficiencies  from 
our  own  establishment,  and  that  set  her  mind  at  rest. 

We  had  debated  whether  to  take  Caddie  with  us,  but 
decided  against  it ;  partly  on  the  score  of  expense,  partly 
because  it  might  give  our  hostess  much  extra  trouble.  But 
Caddie  succeeded  in  finding  a  lady  at  the  Moon  who  was 
glad  to  get  so  good  a  servant  even  for  a  short  time ;  and 
thus  all  obstacles  were  smoothed  away. 

All  obstacles  to  Mr.  Howard's  going — not  all  to  his  go- 
ing speedily.  Arrears  in  the  purse  usually  have  ramifica- 
tions in  every  other  department ;  and  when  it  is  very  hard 
to  buy  materials  it  is  not  easy  to  have  always  a  well-ordered 
wardrobe.  Take  away  the  weekly  mending,  and  Mr.  How- 
ard's was  merely  nominal.  He  wanted  collars,  and  he 
wanted  shirts,  and  he  wanted  pantaloons. 

"  If  you  would  get  some  drilling  and  let  the  tailor  cut 
you  out  a  pair  of  pantaloons,  I  am  sure  I  could  make 
them,"  said  Mrs.  Howard.  "How  much  do  you  pay  as 
it  is  r' 

"  About  five  dollars,"  said  my  father. 

"And  how  much  does  the  stuff* cost  1" 

"  From  twelve  to  eighteen  shillings." 

"  Then  it  is  well  worth  my  while  to  do  it." 

When  Mr.  Howard  came  back  from  Philadelphia  with 
his  various  purchases,  he  produced  a  great  bundle  contain- 
ing the  cut-out  pantaloons,  but  also  stuff*  for  five  other 
pair !  remarking  that  "  he  thought  he  might  as  well  get 
enough  while  he  was  about  it."  He  saw  not  Mrs.  How- 
ard's look  of  dismay,  and  she  said  not  a  word  till  he  was 
out  of  the  room. 

"  1  have  got  my  hands  full  now !  when  in  the  world  shall 
I  ever  make  six  pair  of  pantaloons ! — with  all  else  that  I've 


DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

got  to  do.     If  I  were  accustomed  to  the  work — but  I  never 
made  a  pair  in  my  life !" 

"  Why  didn't  you  tell  papal" 

"  My  dear  Kate,"  said  Mrs.  Howard  smiling,  "  when  you 
are  at  the  head  of  a  house  always  remember,  that  words 
spoken  when  they  can  do  no  good  are  worse  than  wasted. 
1  may  talk  to  you  about  it  for  it's  a  sort  of  relief,  but  what 
would  be  the  use  of  telling  your  father  that  he  had  misun- 
derstood me  and  made  »  mistake  1" 

"  Then  he'd  remember  next  time." 

"No  he  wouldn't — he'd  only  be  uncomfortable  now. 
The  time  to  speak  is  before,  not  after ;  and  I  did  speak,  but 
not  it  seems  with  sufficient  clearness." 

"  You  couldn't  know  that  he  would  think  one  pair  meant 
half  a  dozen." 

"  It's  very  plain  that  he  never  tried  tailoring !"  said  Mrs, 
Howard  with  a  little  shake  of  her  head. 

"  But  why  not  send  some  of  them  away  to  be  made  V 

"  Because  dear  he  did  not  calculate  for  that ;  and  though 
there  is  not  a  pair  more  than  he  wants,  there  are  several 
pair  more  than  he  can  afford  to  have  made — by  any  one 
but  me." 

Kate  looked  as  if  she  thought  it  a  doubtful  saving  of 
expense. 

"  The  time  to  speak,"  said  Mrs.  Howard  with  as  bright  a 
face  as  if  the  pantaloons  had  been  patchwork,  "  is  as  I  told 
you,  before  the  thing  is  done.  Never  shew  a  gentleman  a 
mistake  unless  it  can  be  mended — that  only  gives  pain : 
but  upon  the  next  occasion  I  might  tell  him  '  do  so,'  and 
*  do  not  so,' — then  he  would  never  know  that  he  had  given 
me  any  trouble.  I  would  rather  do  anything  than  that  he 
should  know  it — or  want  the  pantaloons,  either.  So  would 
you  in  my  place.  But  do  you  think  you  and  Grace  can  go 
on  with  those  shirts  all  alone"?  for  I  must  touch  nothing  till 
this  job  is  disposed  of" 

"O  yes,"  said  Kate,  "we  can  manage  the  shirts  well 
enough ;  but  that  is  such  hard  work  for  you  mamma — you 
had  better  let  us  take  it." 

"No  indeed!  Don't  look  so  disconsolate  Gracie, — 'it's 
a  long  lane  that  has  no  turning',  so  we  may  reasonably 
hope  that  this  roll  of  drilling  will  in  course  of  time  pass 


334  DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS. 

through  my  hands,  and  come  out  pantaloons.  But  I  wish 
the  tailor  had  sent  a  key  to  his  cuttings !  I  suppose  this  is 
meant  for  a  pocket — but  how  or  where  1 — Well  I  must  take 
an  old  pair  for  guide." 

Quietly,  steadily  we  worked;  Kate  and  I  sometimes 
bending  over  the  shirts,  sometimes  sitting  up  to  look  out  at 
the  blowing  trees  for  recreation.  Then  Mrs.  Howard  would 
say, 

"  See — haven't  I  put  in  that  pocket  beautifully  ?  now  this 
pair  is  all  done  but  the  button-holes.  I  shall  leave  them 
for  you  Katie,  for  you  will  do  them  best,  and  I'll  help  you 
on  the  shirts." 

"  No  need  mamma,  1  can  do  them  in  short  order.  Gracie 
love,  stop  sewing — I  know  you  are  tired.  Now  just  stop 
and  rest  yourself!" 

"  I  want  to  finish  putting  in  these  sleeves  Katie." 

"  But  you'll  do  yourself  a  mischief — you've  been  sewing 
so  long  and  steadily.  I'd  rather  work  all  night  tha»i  have 
you  get  so  tired,  child." 

And  her  words  send  to  my  heart  one  of  those  two-edged 
feelings — those  bright  indemnifications  that  rich  people 
never  know.     And  with  a  smile  I  answer, 

"  I  won't  hurt  myself  Katie — never  fear." 

I  know  not  if  gold  always  acts  as  a  wedge,  but  I  have 
proved  that  in  its  absence  the  inner  particles  grow  very 
near  together  by  dint  of  a  little  outv\-ard  compression. 

And  then  ^Ir.  Howard  comes  in,  and  patting  our  shoul- 
ders says  rather  sadly, 

"  Don't  work  too  hard." 

And  we  sew  on,  with  a  new  infusion  of  the  spirit  not  of 
strength  but  of  willingness. 

Nevertheless  Kate  says  I  looked  peaked,  and  I  tell  her 
that  she  looks  pale ;  and  Mrs.  Howard  is  only  too  ready 
for  bed. 

Then  we  send  for  Mrs.  Barrington  to  help  Caddie  clean 
house  ;  for  as  Mrs.  Howard  remarks  "  we  sha'n't  want  to 
have  it  done  at  midsummer."  It  is  not  a  fair  cleaning 
house,  either, — we  feel  too  unsettled  to  undertake  that ;  but 
it's  just  enough  to  make  every  room  chill  and  uncomfort- 
able. And  such  a  watching  of  keys  and  bolts  !  Sometimes 
our  work-room  is  without  a  carpet,  s<3metinies    it    has  a 


DOLLARS  AND   CENTS.  335 

strong  savour  of  soapsuds  or  whitewash.  Sometimes  we 
put  up  work  altogether,  and  wash  china.  For  the  storeroom 
is  clean  and  its  contents  must  be  clean  also ;  and  this  china 
— one  of  our  Philadelphia  relics — may  not  be  broken.  Mrs. 
Barrington  indeed  might  be  trusted,  but  her  hands  are  other- 
wise employed  ;  and  as  for  trusting  Caddie — who  thinks  no 
pitcher  has  a  right  to  a  nose,  and  that  cup  handles  are  su- 
pernumerary !  So  the  weariness  of  constant  sitting  is  ex- 
changed for  that  of  standing ;  and  the  ^^rieties  of  the  day 
are  carrying  heavy  piles  of  dishes  to  and  from  the  closet, 
and  the  frequent  exchange  of  wet  towels  for  dry.  Kate 
says  she  would  about  as  lieve  run  the  risk  of  breakage — for 
"when  shall  we  ever  give  dinner-parties'?"  And  Mrs. 
Howard  tells  her  laughingly,  that 

"Did  youtb  but  know  what  age  would  crave, 
Mauy  a  penny  would  it  save." 

Whereupon  we  both  express  a  desire  to  know  where  the 
pennies  are  ?  and  also  an  opinion  that  youth's  power  of  ex- 
travagance is  sometimes  limited. 

It  is  not  uncomfortable  out  of  doors — how  lovely  !  how 
fair!  And  I  think  half  sighingly  of  the  wood  beauties  that 
I  have  no  time  to  search  out.  The  lilacs  load  the  air  with 
their  fragrance,  and  their  clusters  lose  somewhat  of  their 
first  pink,  and  take  more  of  the  true  lilac  colour  as  the  buds 
open  :  then  they  are  all  lilac — or  white, — then  touched  with 
brown ;  and  then  among  the  things  that  were.  And  the 
laburnums  are  in  full  flower;  but  we  have  only  time  for 
now  and  then  a  glance  at  their  yellow  luxuriance,  and  Mrs. 
Howard  declares  that  she  never  has  a  fair  chance  to  see 
them,  for  they  always  bloom  when  she  is  most  busy. 
Then  the  air  is  "  faint  with  sweetness" — or  would  be  if  it 
were  musk  instead  of  locust-flowers — and  we  are  almost  as 
much  attracted  as  the  bees.  Happy  bees !  whose  work  is 
among  the  flowers, — who  thread  the  air  while  we  thread 
needles ! 

And  when  I  have  been  busy  all  day  with  fingers  or  feet, 
I  sit  quietly  at  the  window  after  sundown  feeling  very,  very 
tired,  and  look  at  the  north-western  sky  with  the  dark  out- 
line of  hill  and  trees  against  it.  I  remember  one  night  in 
particular. 


33G  DOLLARS  AXD  CENTS. 

The  blue  of  the  zenith  had  disappeared  far  above  the 
horizon,  but  not  faded^  it  had  only  given  place  to  a  clear 
cool  brilliancy — an  indescribable  colour,  or  want  of  colour, 
rather.  And  how  much  the  sight  rested  and  refreshed  me ! 
— the  feeling  was  akin  to  that  of  "cold  waters  to  a  thirsty 
soul."  Is  it  that  the  very  idea  of  peace  rests  one?  or  that 
all  the  chords  of  man's  being  are  within  Nature's  reach,  and 
answer  to  the  touch  of  her  fingers]  The  mind  in  its 
weariness  and  fluctuation  lays  hold  of  what  is  as  Carlyle 
says,  "So  still!  eternal!"  with  immediate  steadiness  and 
relief. 

The  May  roses  had  spent  their  beauty,  the  Harrisons 
were  in  full  pursuit,  and  one  bud  on  our  favourite  Rouge  de 
Luxembourg  was  peeping  from  its  calyx  to  look  at  the 
world,  before  Mr.  Howard  was  ready  for  his  departure. 
He  had  protested  against  going  until  he  had  seen  us  settled 
in  our  farm-house ;  but  we  had  raised  a  counter  protesta- 
tion, and  as  he  was  short  of  time  my  father  had  to  yield. 

It  was  but  little  we  had  to  move.  Mrs.  Harrington's 
fears  had  looked  rather  at  our  imaginary  than  our  real 
wants,  and  the  apartments  she  had  got  ready  for  us  needed 
little  done  on  our  part.  There  was  however  much  to  be 
done  at  home, — things  to  put  up  and  arrange,  winter 
clothes  to  stow  away  and  summer  clothes  to  get  out ;  and 
not  a  few  of  the  latter  to  be  mended  or  altered.  Mr. 
Howard's  claims  had  crowded  our  own  out  of  sight.  Some 
articles  could  be  finished  after  our  removal,  but  of  others 
we  were  in  immediate  need  ;  and  we  had  a  tiresome  week 
before  we  were  ready  to  leave  the  Glen ; — too  tiresome,  too 
busy  to  let  us  feel  its  full  sadness, — there  was  only  the 
constant  pressure  of  something. 

It  seemed  strange  too.  We  were  going  but  for  a  while 
— my  father  had  left  us  in  excellent  spirits,  and  his  absence 
was  not  to  be  very  long ;  but  it  was  perhaps  the  trying  of 
a  cord  that  must  soon  break, — should  we  ever  live  there 
again?  and  even  a  temporary  removal  seemed  to  take  us 
further  from  those  happy  years  that  we  had  outgrown. 
One  pleasant  thought  stood  alone  in  the  midst  of  it  all — 
Mrs.  Barrington's  house  would  be  more  of  a  castle  than  our 
own  could  be, — there,  Mr.  McLoon  would  not  even  try  to 
enter ;  we  could  have  open  doors  to  our  heart's  content. 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  337 

"Wolfgang's  shanty  '11  go  I  s'pose  ma'am?"  said  Mr. 
Barrington,  as  he  and  his  wife  made  their  appearance  on  the 
morning  of  our  breaking-up.  "  I  guess  likely  as  he  come 
from  England  he  mightn't  care  about  sleeping  with  Coal." 

"  Yes,  it  may  as  well  go,"  said  my  stepmother  with  a 
smile.  "But  how  will  Coal  like  such  an  intrusion  upon 
his  premises  f 

"He?"  said  Mrs.  Barrington — "my!  why  Mrs.  Howard 
he'll  be  tickled  to  death !  He's  a  dreadful  sociable  little 
dog,  and  not  a  bit  crabbed." 

"  Ain't  a  thing  in  town  that  don't  like  him,"  said  Ezra, 
"  'cept  Mr.  Carvill's  Mire-a-bow  ;  and  Ids  likin  would  be  a 
small  notion  of  a  compliment  for  he's  as  ugly  as  he  can 
live." 

And  Coal  wriggled  himself  almost  into  a  circle  to  prove 
his  amiability. 

"  Have  done !  will  ye  ?"  said  Ezra.  "  You  ain't  got  so 
much  to  boast  of  in  the  way  o'  looks  that  ye  need  put 
yourself  out  to  make  folks  stare  at  ye." 

"  The  last  dog  we  had  was  dreadful  handsome,"  said  Mrs. 
Barrington  with  a  benign  look  at  the  little  rough  black 
terrier ;  "  but  he  got  blowed  up." 

And  Kate  and  i  make  a  rush  upstairs, lest  our  sympathy 
should  be  testified  in  a  very  extraordinary  manner.  The 
laugh  was  soon  checked  in  those  deserted  rooms — they 
looked  so  desolate, — the  shadows  of  past  years  lay  there, 
and  not  even  the  warm  May  sun  could  do  more  than  set 
them  off.  I  had  seen  that  same  house,  at  that  same  season, 
in  all  the  complicated  disorder  of  building,  cleaning  and 
moving,  but  it  looked  very  different  now  ;  for,  says  Bacon, 
"  Hope  is  a  good  breakfast,  but  it  is  a  bad  supper." 

Kate  seized  a  caipet-bag  and  ran  down  again,  and  I  fol- 
lowed her  with  a  bandbox. 

"  I'd  be  caution !"  said  Mr.  Barrington  as  in  a  somewhat 
summary  manner  he  pounced  upon  bag  and  box  at  once, 
"  I'd  be  caution  I  could  ha'  fetched  them  things  a'most  as 
quick  as  you  have !  I  h'ain't  quite  forgot  how  to  run  up 
and  down  stairs  yet.  Ain't  there  no  other  way  lefl  o'  takin 
exercise  ?" 

And  marching  out  with  great  dignity  Ezra  bestowed  the 
bag  under  the  seat  of  his  ox-cart. 

15 


338  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

"  '11  this  pasteboard  thing  stand  fire  1"  he  said  with  an 
inquiring  look  towards  Kate  and  me  as  we  stood  holding 
the  door.  "  You  needn't  be  so  skeery  about  the  door  Miss 
Kate — if  he  gets  in  I'd  just  as  soon  pitch  him  out  as  not, 
and  a  notion  rather.  But  I  say  has  this  here  concern  got 
to  be  made  much  of?  had  it  ought  to  stand  up  or  lie 
down  r 

a  j\fy  I"  said  Mrs.  Harrington  running  out,  "  don't  you 
know  no  better  than  to  stick  a  ban'box  eend-ways  up  ?  it's 
got  things  into  it !" 

"  It  ain't  got  no  hole  for  'em  to  run  out  of," — said  Ezra, 
— "  leastways  if  that  'ere  streaked  bag  don't  kiver  it  up ! — 
and  then  one  would  think  they  coulchi't  run  out." 

"  A  person  would  think  a  great  many  things,"  said  his 
wife  as  she  clambered  into  the  cart  and  settled  and  unset- 
tled the  baggage  to  her  liking ;  "  but  wiser  folks  than  you 
and  me  Ezra,  has  been  mistook  afore  now." 

"  Well  I'll  never  deny  that !" — said  Mr.  Barrington  who 
stood  with  his  hands  resting  on  the  cart-rave.  "  Go  ahead  ! 
the  oxen  won't  run  away — that's  a  blessing !  And  if  they 
did  you'd  ride  soft  in  there  'mongst  all  that  nonsense." 

"  Fetch  out  some  more  o'  them  trunks !"  said  Mrs.  Bar- 
rington with  dignity. 

"  Women  is  wonderful !"  said  Ezra  as  he  walked  off. 
*'  I  s'pose  there  wouldn't  be  much  done  if  it  wa'n't  for  them  ! 
And  if  there  didn't  now  and  then  come  along  s'nthin  a 
leetle  too  heavy  for  'em  to  manage,  a  man  might  go  black- 
berrying  !     There — that's  all." 

We  saw  the  cart  drive  off,  and  after  taking  a  final  survey 
of  everything  within  the  house,  we  went  out  and  locked 
the  door  and  withdrew  the  key.  When  would  it  be  put  in 
again  1  There  is  a  character  in  shut  doors  and  windows 
that  one  has  been  wont  to  see  open, — where  there  is  no 
light  from  within,  the  light  from  without  falls  cheerlessly. 
We  stood  silently  looking  at  the  lake.  It  shewed  no  sym- 
pathy for  our  sadness — the  very  laugh  of  the  spring-time 
beamed  on  it;  and  the  birds — were  they  heartless  in  their 
rejoicing? — only  thoughtless,  like  the  rest  of  the  world! 
Our  eyes  wandered  to  the  little  opening  in  the  woods  that 
marked  the  foot-path  to  the  Bird's  Nest. 

"  Shall  we  walk  down  there  mamma  ?"  said  Kate. 


DOLLARS  ASD   CKSTS.  839 

Mrs.  Howard  consented ;  and  we  went  slowly  along, 
thinking,  noticing  everything,  but  without  a  word,  till  we 
reached  the  garden.  Everything  was  in  nice  order,  every- 
thing wore  its  old  look  of  quiet  security, — one  could  not 
imagine  an  intruder  there.  Yet  had  one  been, — we  looked 
at  the  house  and  turned  sighingly  away. 


840  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS, 


CHAPTEK    XXXY. 


All  friendship  now  decays, 

(Believe  me  this  is  true,) 
Which  was  not  in  those  days 

When  this  old  cap  was  new. 

Old  Song. 


THE  little  abode  where  Ezra  Barrington  had  been  settled 
on  our  first  coming  to  Glen  Luna  and  which  he  had  re- 
tained even  when  he  took  charge  of  the  Lea,  was  on  our 
own  land.  So  much  was  pleasant.  The  house  itself  was 
nothing  extraordinary,  though  larger  than  many  of  its  race, 
and.  with  that  full  complement  of  doors  and  windows  which 
an  American  farmhouse  rarely  wants.  There  was  too  the 
unfailing  porch,  and  the  low  kitchen  appendage  with  a  pro- 
portionably  high  chimney ;  and  in  close  neighbourhood  to 
this  apartment  appeared  a  perfect  settlement^  of  chicken- 
coops,  because  any  nearer  the  woods  was  "  so  handy  to  the 
minks."  One  or  two  particularly  cross  old  hens  were  fa- 
voured with  separate  and  retired  situations. 

The  house  stood  halfway  up  a  thickly  wooded  and  rather 
steep  side-hill,  facing  one  long  open  vista  to  the  south-west ; 
which  parallelogram  of  clearing  embraced  the  path,  a  corn- 
field, a  patch  of  forest,  a  touch  of  the  lake  at  its  western 
extremity,  and  the  little  church.  Further  still  was  the  low 
cultivated  shore  on  the  Moon  side. 

About  the  house,  besides  the  soft  pasture  and  here  and 
there  a  brown  stump,  was  a  neat  garden.  Long  open  ranks 
of  Indian  corn  w^ent  up  hill  untiringly,  while  pumpkin  vines 
covered  every  spare  inch  of  ground  with  their  large  leaves 
and  yellow  flowers;  and  cabbages,  lettuce,  beans,  onions, 
and  the  common  variety  of  tap-roots,  deployed  off  according 
to  their  several  uniforms  :  potatoes  were  in  a  distant  squad 
by  themselves.     A  few  currant-bushes  hanging  full  of  their 


DOLLARS  AND   CENTS.  341 

reddening  fruit,  and  two  or  three  apple  and  cherry  trees, 
carried  the  garden  to  the  edge  of  the  woods.  This  was  at 
the  back  of  the  house, — no  vegetables  were  allowed  in  front. 
Marigolds  of  every  shade  of  colour  and  fulness,  fine  variega- 
ted ladyslippers,  feverfew,  bachelor's  buttons,  canterbury 
bells,  phlox  and  amaranths,  presented  a  very  gay  spectacle 
to  a  cluster  of  tall  sun-flowers  which  looked  down  upon 
them  ;  and  left  in  pretty,  soft  relief,  an  occasional  bed  of 
"  creepin'  Charlie."  A  single  pole  of  scarlet  runners  and 
another  of  painted  ladies  represented  the  aristocracy  of  the 
kitchen  garden  ;  while  on  one  side  an  unpretending  green 
vine  wandered  where  it  would,  because  as  Mrs.  Barrington 
informed  us,  the  gourds  w^ere  "  such  dreadful  pretty  things 
for  the  children  to  play  with." 

"The  children,"  strictly  speaking,  were  but  two,  for 
'Dency  and  'Lisha  were  well  advanced  in  the  growing-up 
stage.  'Lisha  was  away  in  the  field  with  his  fl\ther ;  but 
'Dency  came  forth  with  her  mother  to  meet  us,  and  Benny 
and  little  Susan-Jeanette  peeped  at  us  from  behind  the 
currant-bushes.  Coal  followed  up  his  good  beginning,  and 
displayed  a  degree  of  amiable  excentricity  that  completely 
puzzled  Wolfgang.  He  evidently  thought  his  little  canine 
host  was  mad. 

We  were  assigned  the  eastern  division  of  the  house,  that 
being  a  little  the  most  modern  and  commodious,  and  Mrs. 
Barrington's  extreme  anxiety  for  our  comfort  kept  down  all 
notionality  on  our  part.  Indeed  our  notions  had  had  a 
schooling,  and  to  be  safe  and  comfortable  were  matters 
quite  independent  of  mahogany  and  brussels.  Our  simple 
table  and  chairs  looked  very  pleasant  upon  Mrs.  Barring- 
ton's  bran  new  carpet,  wherein  were  all  the  colours  of  the 
rainbow  in  most  un-rainbow-like  order ;  and  our  books, 
Kate's  harp,  and  Wolfgang,  made  us  feel  at  home.  Oil 
one  point  alone  had  we  any  difficulty,  and  that  was  the  dis- 
posal of  the  best  looking-glass ;  which  to  give  a  finish  to 
our  sitting-room  now  hung  between  the  windows.  If  there 
be  such  things  as  "  moral  pocket-handkerchiefs,"  then  was 
that  a  moral  mirror!  a  sure  antidote  to  vanity!  no  such 
representation  of  our  faces  had  ever  been  made  before. 
The  eye  involuntarily  sought  something  else — and  found  it. 
Above  the  plate,  as  if  to  make  amends  for  its  sternness,  a 


342  DOLLARS  AXD   CENTS. 

ship  with  the  whitest  of  canvass  was  at  full  sail  on  the 
brightest  of  all  blue  water, — her  masts  and  rigging  quite 
startling  with  paint  and  varnish;  and  overhung  as  it  was 
with  a  penthouse  of  frame,  the  whole  formed  a  sort  of  en- 
tablature that  was  distressing  to  civilized  nerves.  What 
should  we  do  with  it  ?  or  M'ith  them  %  Rather  than  hurt 
the  kind  feeling  which  placed  it  there  we  would  have 
watched  the  ship's  progress  all  summer,  and  no  indirect 
coaxing  or  persuasion  could  make  Mrs.  Harrington  appro- 
priate such  an  adornment.  "She  didn't  want  it,"  and 
"  she'd  as  much  rather  as  could  be  we  should  have  it" ; 
and  nothing  saved  us  at  last  but  the  happy  discovery  that 
a  little  set  of  book-shelves  must  hang  just  there  and  no- 
where else ! 

"  If  there's  anything  been  forgot  or  left  down  yonder, 
Mrs.  Howard,"  said  Ezra  Barrington  next  day,  "jus'  say 
so  and  it  sha'n't  be  there  no  longer  than  it'll  take  me  to  go 
and  come.  And  I  ain't  somebody  else,"  he  added  with  a 
meaning  look,  "  nor  no  connection  !  There  sha'n't  a  living 
soul  get  in  but  me — without  it's  'Lisha." 

We  had  agreed  to  provide  ourselves  with  sugar  and  tea 
and  coffee,  and  to  prepare  the  two  last  after  our  own  fashion 
by  means  of  an  urn  and  spirit-lamp  ;  but  for  all  the  sub- 
stantial we  were  to  rely  upon  our  hostess  and  her  cookery. 
So  when  it  drew  near  meal-time,  'Dency's  hair  which  not 
being  very  long  usually  stood  straight  out  from  its  first 
twist,  was  carefully  secured  and  decorated  with  a  large 
carved  comb  ;  and  with  clean  apron  and  hands  and  white 
stockings,  and  new  shoes,  she  came  tramping  in  and  out  to 
set  our  table  and  spread  it  with  whatever  attainable  things 
Mrs.  Barrington  had  thought  we  should  like.  In  some  of 
the  intervals  of  business  Kate  and  I  always  gave  the  table 
a  slight  rearrangement,  for  it  was  impossible  to  get  'Dency 
out  of  her  own  style  and  into  ours ;  and  she  might  have 
been  born  and  bred  a  Southerner  for  the  way  she  left  the 
doors  open — she  made  a  perfect  avenue  for  herself  from 
our  room  to  the  kitchen. 

"  'Dency  !"  her  mother  would  call  out  from  the  pyro- 
ligneous  quarter,  "  come  back  and  shut  that  door !  now 
straight ! — If  I  was  a  girl  as  big  as  you  be,  I'd  be 
ashamed." 


DOLLARS  AND    CENTS,  843 

And  'Dency  would  answer,  "  Yes  ma'am !"  and  run  and 
shut  the  doors ;  but  they  were  open  again  in  five  minutes. 

Our  new  way  of  life  had  gone  on  for  about  a  week,  when 
we  were  honoured  by  a  call  from  no  less  a  person  than 
Mrs.  Willet. 

"  Well,"  she  said,  "  I've  found  you  out  you  see— dear  me  ! 
I  thought  I  never  should  get  up  that  hill ! — I  couldn't  be- 
lieve my  ears  when  they  told  me  you  were  gone — O  me ! 
Grace  my  dear,  a  glass  of  water.  But  how  comfortable 
you  are  here !"  she  repeated,  as  between  and  over  sips  of 
water  her  eyes  scrutinized  the  room.  "  Why  you're  as 
delightfully  situated  as  can  be !" 

"  To  be  sure  !"  said  Kate.  "  You  didn't  think  we  were 
going  to  put  ourselves  where  we  should  not  be  comfortable, 
Mrs.  Willet  ]" 

"  But  they  told  me  you  had  left  Glen  Luna  for  the  sum- 
mer— and  of  course — I  see  you've  got  your  harp  here  too, 
Kate." 

"  What  kind  of  a  place  did  you  think  we  were  ml"  said 
Mrs.  Howard  laughing. 

"  Bless  me,  my  dear,  how  can  I  tell  1  how  could  I  tell,  I 
mean.     But  you're  so  neat  and  pretty  here  !" 

"  Yes  ma'am,"  said  Kate  gravely — "  we  always  patronize 
dusting-brushes." 

"  You're  not  so  much  further  off  after  all,"  said  Mrs. 
Willet—"  only  for  this  terrible  hill." 

"  You  did  not  walk  V 

"  Up  the  hill — I  had  to  leave  my  carriage  at  the  foot  you 
know.  Next  time  I  shall  stay  there  too  and  send  for  you 
to  come  down, — the  youngest  legs  ought  to  do  the  running. 
Well  ain't  you  surprised  to  see  me  1" 

"  A  little,"  said  my  stepmother  smiling, — "  I  hardly 
thought  you  would  come." 

"  Why  not  V  said  Mrs.  Willet  with  grave  earnestness 
and  the  air  of  repelling  an  imputation.  "  What  made 
you  think  I  wouldn't  1" 

"  What  made  you  ask  me  if  I  was  surprised  1" 

"  You  always  want  to  know  the  reason  of  everything  ! 
Bless  mc  !  what  noise  is  thaf?" 

"I  think  it  is  'Dency  singing,"  said  Kate  with  a  smile, 

"  Who's  'Dency  1" 


344  DOLLARS  AKD   CEXTS. 

"  'Dency  Barrington — the  daughter  of  our  hostess." — 

"  My  dear  Mrs.  Howard  I  should  think  it  would  annoy 
you  to  death  !     Why  do  you  permit  it  ?" 

"  It's  a  free  country,"  said  my  stepmother  laughing. 

"  But  do  they  often  sing  so  f 

"  Pretty  often.  They  are  methodists,  and  very  fond  of 
raising  their  voices." 

"  But  don't  you  suppose  they'd  stop  if  you  told  them 
how  it  troubled  you  V 

"  I  am  sure  they  would ;  but  I  think  I  should  interfere 
more  with  their  comfort  than  they  do  with  mine, — espe- 
cially as  it  seldom  troubles  me  at  all." 

"  I'm  sure  I  couldn't  bear  it  for  ten  minutes !"  said  Mrs. 
Willet,  as  'Dency  struck  up  some  new  and  particularly 
loud  variation  and  all  the  children  joined  in.  "  It  goes 
right  through  my  head !" 

"  That  sweet  tune  V  said  Kate.  "  Some  of  the  methodist 
hymns  are  so  fine  that  no  singing  can  spoil  them." 

"  But  so  long  as  a  thing  goes  through  your  head  my 
dear,  it  don't  matter  whether  it's  sweet  or  not.  Well — 
you're  all  good-natured  I  suppose.  Now  do  come  and  see 
me  very  soon, — you  must  not  let  yourselves  stay  up  here 
•without  exercise.  And  a  little  diversion  for  the  mind  too. 
When  did  you  hear  from  your  father  1" 

"  Yesterday,"  said  Kate. 

"  O,  that's  pleasant.     He  is  well  ?" 

"  Very  well." 

"  Give  my  regards  to  him  when  you  write.  Now  don't 
forget — Carry  says  she  never  can  remember  a  message. 
And  by  the  way — she  would  have  come  with  me  this 
morning,  but  it  was  just  the  hour  for  her  ride  on  horse- 
back. I  need  not  explain  it  to  you  my  dear  Kate — who 
are  so  systematic  and  make  such  admirable  use  of  your 
time — you  understand  it,  don't  you  V 

"  Perfectly  !"  said  Kate  with  sparkling  eyes.  But  they 
were  beyond  Mrs.  W^illet's  ken. 

"  Yes,  I  thought  so,"  said  she  giving  Kate  a  most  affec- 
tionate kiss.  "  You  must  come  and  see  her — come  all  of 
you,  it'll  be  a  nice  walk, — you  might  come  every  day  as 
well  as  not." 

"I  don't  know  about  that,"  said  I,  as  I  watched  Mrs. 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS,  345 

"Wlllet's  diminishing  figure.  "  I  think  there  would  be  more 
than  one  person  tired  if  we  did.  '  A  nice  walk  for  US' — 
who  have  no  carriage  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  !" 

"It  is  part  of  our  discipline,"  said  Kate  as  she  turned 
away  from  the  window.  "  This  would  have  tried  me  once  ! 
I  am  thankful  that  I  have  grown  wiser — that  my  friends 
must  come  up  to  a  higher  standard." 

"  Have  you  the  time  of  day,  Mrs.  Howard  ?"  said 
Mrs.  Barrington  cautiously  opening  the  door.  "  He's  got 
a  watch,  but  he  keeps  it  to  the  field, — I  tell  him  he  ought 
to  get  me  one.     And  the  clock  ain't  fixed  yet." 

"It  is  just  eleven,"  said  my  stepmother. 

"  Well  now  ain't  there  anything  as  you'd  like  to  have 
for  dinner  perticular?  it  don't  make  no  odds  to  me,"  said 
;Mrs.  Barrington  earnestly ;  "  and  if  there's  a  thing  we  kiu 
get  you  shall  have  it." 

"  It  makes  very  little  diflference  to  us,"  said  my  step- 
mother. "  Don't  send  Elisha  to  Wiamee  in  this  hot  sun — 
give  us  just  what  you  happen  to  have." 

"  Dear  me !"  said  Mrs.  Barrington,  "  but  there  ain't 
much  of  anything  to  day  Mrs.  Howard — a  place  gets 
cleared  out  once  in  a  while,  someways ;  and  now  what 
could  you  take  a  likin  to?  'cause  'tain't  no  more  trouble  to 
get  what  you  like  than  what  you  don't  like." 

"  Don't  get  anything  to-day." 

"There  ain't  anything  in  the  house  ma'am,  if  it  wa'n't 
bread  and  eggs  and  strawberries  and  ham — and  Ezra  says 
to  me,  'now  don't  you  never  give  'em  no  pork'  he  says — 
and  I  always  reckoned  as  ham  and  pork  was  kinder  first 
cousins." 

"But  we  like  ham  very  much,  and  pork  too  some- 
times," said  my  stepmother  smiling ;  "  and  in  this  weather 
nothing  can  be  better  than  strawberries — with  your  nice 
bread." 

"  I  don't  never  get  tired  o'  pork  myself,"  said  Mrs.  Bar- 
rington,— "  but  it  don't  seem  right  to  make  them  eat  it  as 
ain't  been  used  it.  x\nd  I'd  send  'Lisha  to  Mr.  Cleaver's, 
only  he's  helping  his  father — but  'Dency  kin  go.  And 
Ezra  would  have  went  to  the  lake  for  to  ketch  some  fish, 
but  he  said  if  he  did  it  would  be  sure  to  rain  afore  he'd  get 
back ;  and  there's  a  dreadful  sight  of  hay  down." 


346  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS.    . 

And  Mrs.  Barrington  stood  looking  at  us  in  rather 
anxious  perplexity. 

"  We  won't  eat  a  thing  to-day  but  bread  and  butter  and 
strawberries,"  said  Kate  laughing — "if  you  get  ever  so 
much,  Mrs.  Barrington.  I'd  rather  have  them  than  chickens 
or  fish." 

"  Well  of  all  things !"  said  the  good  woman.  "  But  the 
chickens,  Miss  Kate  ! — there  ain't  a  man  alive  could  ketch 
'em  to-day,  for  little  Benny  left  the  coop  undid,  and  they 
run  right  out;  and  if  they  once  takes  a  notion  to  go  in  the 
woods,  there's  nothing  to  do  but  let  'em  go." 

The  pleasantest  thing  we  did  that  summer  was  to  go  to 
the  Bird's  Nest :  there  was  an  influence  there,  that  was 
^^Yj  soothing  amid  all  its  sorrowfulness ;  and  if  every 
sight  and  sound  reminded  us  of  what  we  had  lost,  they  did 
not  speak  of  the  weariness  and  disturbance  of  money 
affairs,  nor  of  the  bad  side  of  human  nature.  All  that  we 
had  ever  known  in  that  little  garden  was  lovely  and  of 
good  report ;  and  tears  there  were  better  than  smiles  in 
other  places, — more  comforting.  We  loved  to  sit  and  talk 
of  the  pleasant  times  that  were  gone, — to  imagine  what 
Miss  Easy  would  have  said  to  us  in  the  troublous  times 
we  had  lately  been  through, — how  she  would  have  looked 
— what  a  relief  it  would  have  been  to  talk  out  to  her ;  and 
yet  we  often  felt  and  said  we  were  glad  that  our  sorrows 
were  hers  no  longer.  And  Kate  would  look  at  me  as  with 
Miss  Easy's  eyes,  and  tell  me  she  wished  I  would  wear  a 
brighter  face.  There  was  indeed  a  strange  sort  of  society 
in  that  garden, — its  very  stillness  said  more  than  other 
people's  words.  To  go  there  was  like  steadying  the  con- 
fusion of  mind  and  every-day  cares,  that  we  might  see 
more  clearly  the  bright  light  from  "  the  kingdom," — it  was 
a  never-failing  quickener  of  faith  and  patience.  And  yet 
— and  yet — there  were  times  when  I  could  hardly  bear  to 
go  to  it,  nor  to  come  away  when  I  had  gone.  It  seemed 
like  another  parting. 

We  were  gradually  learning  to  do  without  more  things 
than  money, — people  fell  off  from  us  right  and  left;  and 
the  same  persons  who  two  or  three  years  l)efore  had  invited 
us  constantly  to  their  houses,  now  asked  us  once  in  the 
season,  or  not  at  all.     This  was  no  sudden  change,  it  had 


DOLLARS  AXD   CENTS.  847 

been  working  for  some  time ;  but  when  we  were  at  home 
and  all  together  it  was  less  noticeable,  less  felt, — neither 
had  it  ever  before  reached  such  a  point. 

Of  course  we  attempted  no  remedy, — our  course  was 
clear.  We  had  but  to  remain  quiet  and  find  our  pleasure 
in  things  out  of  gold's  domain.  And  yet  it  is  impossible 
to  see  those  whom  one  has  liked  and  trusted  even  mode- 
rately,  turn  their  backs,  without  some  feeling  of  regret — 
especially  if  one  is  thereby  left  alone.  This  was  whei-e  it 
touched  us, — it  shewed  us  what  we  had  lost.  A  few  years 
ago  we  could  have  borne  it  better. 

Our  quondam  friends  did  not  quite  break  with  us,  but 
they  acted  so  that  we  could  give  them  but  the  little  finger 
of  friendship  ;  nor  would  perhaps  have  yielded  that,  but 
for  the  longing  one  has  to  trust  somebody.  They  were 
exceeding  fond  of  us  whenever  we  met — but  took  care  to 
have  that  as  seldom  as  possible ;  and  prepared  though  we 
were  for  strange  behaviour,  some  of  their  manoeuvres  fairly 
took  us  by  surprise. 

Not  long  after  Mrs.  Egerton  came  to  her  cottage  for  the 
summer,  the  little  Barringtons  were  electrified  one  morn- 
ing by  the  appearance  of  a  liveried  footman  in  their  garden ; 
his  gold  lace  and  red  facings  quite  outshining  the  sun-flowers 
and  cockscombs.  As  the  hill  seemed  to  have  affected  him 
even  more  severely  than  it  had  Mrs,  Willet,  it  was  perhaps 
fortunate  that  his  errand  was  put  in  writing. 

"  This  is  Mrs,  Egerton's  seal,  I  know,"  said  Kate  as  sho^ 
handed  the  note  to  my  stepmother,  "  What  can  she  want 
of  us  1" 

"  She  wants  our  company  to  breakfiist — on  the  fourth  of 
July  ;  and  '  this  is  not  to  ask  if  we  will  come,  but  to  say 
we  must.''  There,  you  may  read  for  yourself.  1  think  we 
can  hardly  refuse — she  will  send  her  carriage  for  us." 

"  I  wonder  what  has  come  over  her  !"  said  Kate.  "  But 
it  don't  matter — I  should  like  to  go  very  much, — it  is  so 
long  since  we  have  seen  anybody  to  speak  to." 

"  You  see,"  said  Mrs.  Howard  when  she  had  entrusted 
the  fatigued  footman  with  her  answer,  "  you  see  my  dear 
Kate  it  is  never  best  to  form  a  hasty  judgment  on  any 
subject." 

'•  We  had  some  apparent  reason  in  her  case,  mamma. 


348  DOLLARS  AND  CENTS. 

But  I  will  take  it  back — this  invitation  has  given  me  real 
pleasure;  and  it  is  given  so  handsomely  too, — so  promptly, 
— a  thing  is  worth  twice  as  much  that  is  done  at  the  proper 
time." 

The  fourth  of  July  fell  on  Wednesday:  Monday  morn- 
ing came,  and  with  it  the  liveried  footman. 

"  Mrs.  Egerton  would  be  happy  to  have  Miss  Howard's 
company  on  a  drive." 

Kate  went  of  course ;  with  an  additional  touch  of  won- 
der at  the  new  state  of  things ;  and  Mrs,  Howard  and  I 
"went  pleasantly  on  wilh  our  work,  speculating  the  while 
upon  the  benefits  mind  and  body  may  gain  by  the  aid  of 
wheels  and  a  good  pair  of  horses. 

But  "  our  eldest"  looked  tired  when  she  came  home,  and 
her  bonnet-strings  were  untied  with  an  air  of  doubtful 
satisfaction. 

"  What  do  you  suppose  Mrs.  Egerton  took  me  with  her 
for,  mamma  f 

"  Anything  but  a  drive  V 

"Anything  but  that — exactly  mamma.  I  wonder  if  any 
body  could  astonish  me  after  this  !  But  I  thought  nobody 
could,  before." 

"But  what  is  '  this'  1"  said  Mrs.  Howard. 

"  Let  me  see" — said  Kate, — "  if  I  only  could  tell  it  as  it 
was  told  me!  Just  imagine  that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Egerton 
are  taking  a  walk.  And  Mr.  Egerton  says,  '  We  will  ask 
those  Miss  Groomes  my  dear,  to  our  breakfast  on  the 
fourth.'  And  she  replies,  '  No  my  dear,  I  cannot  do  that 
— I  have  already  invited  our  friends  the  Howards." 

Kate  stopped  to  laugh,  in  spite  of  herself. 

"  Did  she  really  say  that,  Katie  ]"  said  I. 

"  She  really  did,  and  not  in  a  way  that  gave  it  even  out- 
side grace.  It  was  how  she  had  given  him  this  answer,  and 
how  he  had  thereupon  expressed  his  regret — think  of  her 
telling  me  that !  '  But  my  dear,'  says  Mr.  Egerton,  '  why 
not  have  them  all  V  And  then  she  told  him,  '  O  no !  she 
couldn't  have  any  more  to  breakfast,  for  she  was  not  out 
of  mourning  yet.'     What  a  farce  it  is  !" 

"  And  what  said  you  1" 

"  That  we  would  not  come — decidedly  enough !  And 
she  made  a  show  of  objecting  ;  but  as  it  was  just  what  she 


DOLLARS  AND   CENTS.  349 

meant  I  should  say,  it  was  only  a  show.  I  don't  care  about 
the  thing  itself — we  can  do  without  this  little  piece  of 
pleasure  as  we  have  done  without  others — but  mamma, 
why  do  people  play  fast  and  loose  with  us  %  They  are  not 
obliged  to  take  any  notice  of  us  if  they  don't  choose  to ; — 
and  no  neglect  can  equal  such  notice.  Now  mamma,"  she 
added,  kneeling  down  by  her,  "  you  shall  not  look  grave 
about  it !" 

"  I  am  very  sorry  you  should  both  be  disappointed." 

"  Are  you  disappointed  dear  Gracie  ?"  said  Kate. 

"A  little — I  sha'n't  be  by  to-morrow." 

"  I  am  very  sorry  too  !  for  that.  But  we  shall  not  think 
of  it  mamma, — I  was  a  little  annoyed  to-day — I  believe 
human  nature  can't  always  help  it." 

"  We  have  better  friends  left  than  Mrs.  Egerton  could 
be,  dear  Kate — that  is  one  comfort.  There  are  some  few 
bright  spots  where  the  eye  may  rest,  some  few  people  that 
may  be  trusted,  and  who  would  give  a  great  deal  to  see 
you." 

"  They  make  the  rest  look  all  the  darker,"  said  Kate  as 
she  rose  and  turned  away.  "  Well,  I  had  as  lief  know  what 
the  world  is  made  of.  There  was  some  loveable  stuff 
•about  us  when  we  came  here,  but  there  is  none  now." 

"  Did  Mrs.  Egerton  say  nothing  else  Katie  V' 

"  Not  much — O  yes,  she  said  it  was  only  postponing  the 
pleasure, — she  should  send  for  us  again  very  soon." 

"  She  won't  get  us,  if  she  does,"  said  I. 

A  virtuous  resolution — which  was  not  to  be  tried.  The 
season  passed,  and  Mrs.  Egerton  went  back  to  town,  but 
no  further  invitation  was  heard  of;  and  the  footman  in 
livery  became  to  the  little  Barringtons  but  as  a  thing  that 
was.  Our  trials  of  patience  were  more  enduring, — general 
invitations  were  at  a  discount. 

"  Do  come  and  drink  tea  with  us  whenever  you  can  find 
time  and  inclination.  You  know  our  tea-hour — it  never 
varies." 

"  Send  some  day  for  my  carriage — it  is  at  your  service." 

"  Now  won't  you  both  come  and  spend  the  day  with  me 
before  I  go  ?"  said  Mrs.  Osborne. 

"  With  great  pleasure,"  said  we ;  and  there  the  matter 
ended. 


S50  DOLLARS  AXD   C^yTS. 

'•  Why  really  ma'am,"  said  Kate  to  another  "  friend", 
who  "  wished  she  could  tempt  us  to  visit  her  in  town," — '"  I 
am  very  easily  tempted."    The  lady  took  leave  immediately. 

Some  such  remark  and  a  single  visit,  satisfied  our  oldest 
acquaintances. 

We  were  not  troubled  by  these  things — they  were  not 
pleasant,  and  did  not  tend  to  raise  our  spirits  ;  but  we  grew 
quiet  and  grave,  not  discontented.  Very  quiet !  most  of 
all  when  we  chanced  to  come  in  contact  with  "  the  world 
of  stuffed  clothes  suits."  How  quietly  we  passed  through 
the  throng  at  our  little  church !  as  if  we  had  been  invisible, 
— sometimes  without  a  greeting  from  anybody.  Indeed 
we  almost  ceased  to  look  for  one,  for  why  should  those 
speak  to  us  on  Sunday  who  would  not  return  our  visits  in 
the  week  ?  Nor  did  they.  A  family  of  old  acquaintances 
in  the  pew  behind  us  might  have  been  the  pew  itself,  for 
unconsciousness  of  our  presence;  and  very  soon  they  might 
have  been  that  for  all  we  cared  about  them.  One  thought 
of  Miss  Easy  was  worth  the  whole  congregation. 

Yet  were  the  days  not  without  pleasure.  We  were 
steadily  busy  and  even  happy, — happy  perhaps  because 
busy  ;  for  time  to  remember  is  not  always  desirable.  We 
copied  a  great  deal  for  Mr.  Phibbs,  and  coloured  as  much, 
— maps  and  law-papers  came  and  went  by  the  quantity ; 
and  the  knowledge  that  we  were  earning  something  was 
very  comforting.  We  had  bright  letters  too  from  Mr. 
Howard,  and  most  brightening  ones  from  Mr.  Rodney,  and 
now  and  then  a  cheering  visit  from  Mr.  Ellis.  Their  breath 
of  hope  and  faith  was  not  lost,  it  applied  a  strong  brace  to 
our  weariness ;  and  Kate  would  often  say, 

"  I  cannot  imagine  what  people  do  that  have  no  trust  in 
the  particular  providence  of  God, — who  look  to  nothing 
beyond  this  world !" 

And  then  sometimes — when  we  had  been  very  hard  at 
work,  or  had  met  with  some  unusually  "  cold  shoulder", — 
the  weariness  would  prevail ;  and  we  felt  almost  like  Noah 
on  Mt.  Ararat — safe  from  the  deluge,  but  with  a  world  of 
emptiness  around  us. 


DOLLARS  AXB   CEXTS.  351 


CHAPTEK   XXXVI. 


Some  murmur,  when  their  sky  is  clear 

And  wholly  bright  to  view, 
If  one  small  speck  of  dark  appear 

In  their  great  heaven  of  blue ; 
And  some  with  thankful  love  are  filled, 

If  but  one  streak  of  light. 
One  ray  of  God's  good  mercy,  gild 

The  darkness  of  their  night. 

Trench. 


"fTlHE  children's  been  out  in  the  woods  after  flowers," 
JL  said  Mrs.  Barrmgton  as  she  brought  in  an  immense 
bunch  of  July  spoils  ;  "  and  I  put  some  of  'em  together,  if 
you'd  be  pleased  to  accept  of  'em." 

"  O  thank  you  !"  I  said — "  they  are  beautiful !  but  you've 
given  us  too  many.  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you  Mrs. 
Barrington." 

"  I'm  sure  you're  entirely  welcome,"  she  answered. 

"  But  I'm  afraid  you  have  robbed  the  children." 

"  O  they've  got  oceans  !" 

*'  Why  here  are  little  green  huckle-berries,"  said  Kate. 

"Them's  bear-berries,"  said  Mrs.  Barrington.  "The 
children  takes  a  notion  to  pick  'em  because  they  hang  so 
curious-like  onto  the  bush.  I  think  a  dreadful  sight  of  them 
when  they're  ripe." 

"  They  are  very  pretty  indeed.  What's  this  great  white 
cluster  f" 

"  O  Kate !"  I  said,  "don't  you  know  that  f ' 

"  It's  only  elder-blows  Miss  Kate.  I  thought  they  was 
all  gone  by  this  time,  but  the  children  found  'em  some- 
wheres.  He  says  they're  nothing  but  weeds,  but  I  tell  him 
they're  just  as  pretty  as  a  flower." 

"  And  so  sweet  too  !  Where  did  they  find  these  pretty 
spikes  of  white  buds  1" 


352  DOLLARS  AND  CENTS. 

"  That  grows  down  in  the  mash — beyond  the  pine  wood. 
Clethiy,  some  folks  calls  it,  and  some  calls  it  white  bush ; 
— and  some  again  calls  it  sweet  pepper  bush  ! — I  don't 
know  no  name  for  it  myself.  And  that  other  white  and 
pink  they  call  prince's  pine — Ezra  says  it  beats  all  how  it 
got  in  our  woods.  And  this  here  is  patridge-berry,  and 
that  'ere  streaked  leaf  is  rattlesnake  leaf." 

"  Why  do  they  call  it  so  ?"  said  I. 

"  Well  I  don't  know,  Miss  Grace — if  it  ain't  because  its 
so  checked  and  spotted,  like  a  snake, — the  flower's  pretty, 
too." 

"  There  are  no  snakes  here  ?"  said  Mrs.  Howard. 

"  None  that  have  got  pison  into  them.  •  But  where  we 
lived  afore  we  come  here,  there  was  the  dreadfuUest  passel 
of  'em  ! — rattlesnakes — and  pilots  ! — I  hadn't  no  good  of 
my  life  for  fear  of  the  children.  There  was  the  most  young 
pilots  killed  just  round  the  house !  But  I  never  see  none 
here — only  a  black  snake, — and  I  threw  a  stone  at  it,  but 
it  cried  so  that  I  had  mercy  onto  it  and  let  it  go.  I  don't 
know  as  I  did  right." 

"  But  they  are  harmless,"  said  Kate. 

"  They  say  they  don't  never  bite  no  one,"  said  Mrs. 
Barrington, — "  but  they'll  take  and  chase  a  person  some- 
times." 

"  Did  you  ever  see  a  rattlesnake  yourself?" 

"  Why  my,  yes !  I  recollect  of  one  day — and  it  had  been 
raining,  and  had  cleared  ofl',  and  the  sun  was  'most  down, — 
and  I  heard  a  great  noise  amongst  the  chickens.  And  I 
telled  Mr.  Barrington  he'd  better  go  look  -after  'em — for 
he  wasn't  well  that  day,  and  staid  home.  So  he  said  he 
guessed  it  wa'n't  nothing,  howsever  he  ketched  up  a  club 
and  went,  and  there  sure  enough  was  two  of  the  little 
chickens  a  lyin'  dead  and  right  next  to  'em  this  great  ugly 
beast !  and  my  husband  he  struck  at  it  and  killed  it.  I 
don't  doubt  but  it  was  six  feet  long — and  it  had  ten  rattles 
to  it.  But  there's  a  kind  o'  root — snake-root  they  call  it, 
that'll  cure  any  sort  o'  bite, — it  don't  grow  round  here.  I 
guess  Fm  like  the  old  woman  Ezra  tells  about,"  said  Mrs. 
Barrington  breaking  off"  with  a  laugh ;— "  she  didn't  know 
when  she  got  through  and  so  she  begun  again.     But  you're 


DOLLARS  AND   CE^TTS.  353 

as  welcome  as  can  be  to  the  flowers,  Miss  Grace,  and  the 
children  kin  fetch  'em  every  day." 

We  arranged  our  flowers,  the  snake  story  giving  fair 
subject  of  debate  the  while,  and  then  seated  ourselves  to 
map  out  a  parcel  of  lands  in  Wisconsin  that  were  to  delude 
some  unwary  speculator ;  talking  of  matters  and  things 
and  enjoying  the  elder  and  partridge-berry  fi-agrance  which 
filled  the  room ;  and  after  dinner  we  were  still  at  our  work 
with  pencil  and  brush,  when  we  heard  a  step,  and  a  portion 
of  the  sun's  rays  on  their  way  to  us  were  suddenly  cut  off. 
Our  windows  were  as  near  the  ground  outside  as  they  were 
within ;  therefore  when  we  looked  up  it  was  no  cause  of 
surprise  to  see  Mr.  Ellis's  elbows  upon  the  window-sill 
while  his  head  was  advanced  some  inches  nearer. 

"Well,"  he  said — "good  afternoon.  Not  round  the 
world  yet  1" 

"  Not  yet,"  said  Kate  smiling. 

"  They  say  a  woman  can't  have  too  much  arithmetic,'* 
remarked  Mr.  Ellis, — "  I  don't  know  how  it  is  as  to  geog- 
raphy, but  I  suppose  something  depends  upon  the  way 
she  studies  it.  Now  if  a  friend  of  mine  stood  where  I  do,  I 
make  no  doubt  he  would  tell  me  as  he  once  did  when  I 
asked  him  what  he  had  seen  at  a  certain  place,  '  I  have  seen 
a  great  many  things  I  cannot  help,  Mr.  Ellis.' " 

"  You  might  look  in  at  almost  any  window  and  say  that," 
said  Kate  laughing. 

"  There  are  some  things  here  I  wouldn't  help  if  I  could. 
Well — Don't  you  want  to  try  a  little  measuring  with  a 
two-foot  rule?  instead  of  that  half-way  thing  of  ivory  1" 

"  Measuring  what,  Mr.  Ellis  ?" 

"The  road  from  here  to  the  top  of  Pillimaquady  hill." 

"  O — yes,  we  should  like  a  walk  very  much.  But  what 
is  up  there  ?  I  thought  Pillimaquady  had  only  engrossed 
all  the  stones  of  the  region  ]" 

"  Yes,  it  has  a  good  many,  but  it's  got  a  house  on  it  too." 

"A  house?"  said  Mrs.  Howard. 

"Why  I  suppose  that  little  pile  of  logs  is  as  much  in  the 
genus  house  as  its  inhabitants  are  in  the  genus  man." 

"  Who  can  live  up  there,  Mr.  Ellis  ?" 

"  A  family  Miss  Kate  who  know  so  much  about  hard 
times,  that  many  other  people  seem  ignorant  in  compari- 


354  DOLLARS  ANJJ   CENTS. 

son, — that's  why  I  want  you  to  see  them.  It's  well  to  find 
out  that  we  don't  know  everything,  and  when  I  find  myself 
a  little  proud  of  my  o\a\  acquaintance  with  trials,  1  go  up 
there." 

Kate  smiled  with  a  full  understanding  of  his  words,  and 
we  were  soon  ready  to  set  out. 

"  I'll  try  to  bring  your  young  ladies  safe  home  ma'am," 
said  Mr.  Ellis,  "  but  I  won't  promise  when.  Pillimaquady 
is  every  inch  a  hill,  and  lets  himself  down  for  nobody." 

Not  for  us,  certainly.  The  road  which  gradually  ascend- 
ing led  us  through  corn  and  hay  fields  to  the  foot  of  the 
hill,  there  changed  to  a  little  thread  of  a  path  of  most  steep 
and  unequal  grading.  Cultivation  had  ventured  no  further ; 
and  the  wild  plants  and  rough  footing  which  had  been  ban- 
ished from  so  much  of  the  neighbouring  country,  here  kept 
their  stronghold.  The  trees  grew  in  what  fashion  it  liked 
them  best ;  and  thick  beds  of  wintergreen  and  mouse-ear 
and  squaw-vine  luxuriated  in  their  shade.  Sweet-fern  aro- 
matized the  air  with  its  pretty  cut  leaves,  while  the  beauti- 
ful laurels  in  their  variety  of  growth  and  colour  might  have 
appropriated  Cowper's  lines. 

"This  red 
And  of  an  humbler  growth,  the  other  tall, 
And  throwing  up  into  the  darkest  gloom 
Of  neighbouring  cypress  or  more  sable  yew 
Her  silver  globes." 

And  the  intermediate  shades  blended  and  contrasted  with 
these  two  extremes,  in  a  way  that  as  the  French  say,  "  left 
nothing  to  desire." 

Stones  grew  more  plenty  and  flowers  more  scarce  as  we 
proceeded  ;  and  over  rocks  and  moss-beds  and  little  springy 
places  which  even  at  that  season  kept  their  dampness,  we 
wandered  and  wound  about,  till  we  reached  a  sort  of  land- 
ing-place some  four-fifths  of  the  way  up.  We  saw  no  house 
yet,  but  the  path  was  more  level,  and  the  near  cackling  of 
a  hen  spoke  of  settlers.  Then  appeared  a  clothes-line 
stretched  from  tree  to  tree,  and  supporting  a  red  flannel 
shirt  and  two  or  three  nondescript  articles ;  then  the  afore- 
said hen  and  her  companions;  the  pig-pen,  and  finally  the 
house.  I  put  the  pig-pen  first,  for  that  it  was  in  order  of 
approach, — standing  at  the  very  path-edge,  and  rendering 


DOLLARS  AND   CENTS.  355 

"  the  right  of  way"  a  matter  for  litigation.  A  pen  it  was 
not,  in  strictness,  unless  when  the  pigs  chose  to  lie  behind 
their  logs  and  imagine  themselves  shut  up, — generally  they 
preferred  lying  outside  and  looking  in.  A  rail-fence  in  two 
parts  made  an  equally  doubtful  attempt  at  shutting  off  the 
rough  courtyard,  which  ran  down  to  a  wet,  boggy  bit  of 
ground,  full  of  alders  and  other  plants  that  will  still  be 
paddling. 

The  house  was  but  a  regular  arrangement  of  back-logs, 
with  two  or  three  rickety  board  steps,  and  windows  that 
were  as  little  thorough-going  as  the  rest  of  the  concern  ;  the 
steps  were  at  present  occupied  by  a  marvellously  clean  and 
nice-looking  little  cat  whom  the  first  glimpse  of  us  banished 
to  unknown  regions.  The  dark  woods  closed  in  behind  the 
house  and  skirted  the  far  side  of  the  courtyard ;  and  from 
the  gable  next  us,  a  disjointed  stove-pipe  whose  inclination 
was  to  quit  the  concern,  sent  up  a  lazy  indication  of  smoke, 
— looking  as  much  like  that  which  comes  from  a  chimney, 
as  a  good  open  fireplace  resembles  its  iron  imitators. 

In  front  of  the  rickety  steps  a  little  girl  about  ten  years 
old  was  jumping  the  rope  :  dressed  as  to  substantials  in  a 
stuff  petticoat.  For  ornament  she  wore  a  string  of  beads, 
and  a  muslin  waist  the  skirt  of  which  had  once  covered  the 
petticoat,  but  now  hung  in  shortened  and  narrow  fringe- 
strips  over  the  dark  stuff;  while  her  stockings  and  panta- 
lettes were  but  of  the  same  material  as  Prince  Vortigern's 
'vest — unpainted.  But  if  rags  and  mud  claimed  the  whole 
of  the  body,  the  face  belonged  to  nothing  but  fun ;  and  the 
child  and  her  fringed  habiliments  took  flying  leaps  over  the 
rope,  in  a  style  that  quite  distanced  the  sports  of  Quilp's 
boy. 

A  little  cur  of  a  dog  started  up  to  bark  at  us,  but  seeing 
Mr.  Ellis's  stick  he  dropped  ears  and  tail,  and  walked  round 
to  greet  Wolfgang  and  Dec. 

We  were  endeavouring  to  pick  our  way  over  the  stones 
which  clogged  the  fence-gap,  when  the  house  door  opened, 
and  a  woman  who  had  seen  the  shady  side  of  life  as  well 
as  of  forty,  came  out.  Her  face  was  bandaged  with  a 
handkerchief,  and  a  muslin  cap  covered  her  head. 

"Why  laws  a  me  !"  she  said.  "You  baint  come  all  the 
way  up  here  agin  Mr.  Ellis  ?  well  that's  wonderful  clever 


856  •  DOLLARS  AXD   CEN'TS. 

o'  you,  for  sartain.  And  these  young  ladies — pretty  girls ! 
to  come  so  far  to  see  a  body !" 

'•  How  are  you  to-day  Mrs.  Flinter  V  replied  our  com- 
panion. 

"  I  ain't  just  well,"  she  answered, — "  I  was  wonderful  bad 
with  the  teethache  night  afore  last,  and  my  flice  are  as  big 
as  two,  yet.     Why  ain't  that  Mr.  Collingwood's  dog  1" 

'•  Yes,"  said  Mr.  Ellis. 

*'  He  ain't  to  the  Lea  is  he  sir  ?" 

"  No,  but  Wolfgang  is  spending  the  summer  with  Mrs. 
Howard." 

"  Why  I  want  to  know !"  said  Mrs.  Flinter, — "  poor 
feller  !  poor  feller !  Come  in  sir,  won't  you — come  in  Miss 
Howards.  Well  I'm  wonderful  glad  to  get  a  sight  o'  that 
'ere  dog ! — poor  feller  !  come  right  in,  too — you  sha'n't  stay 
out  while  this  here  house  has  got  a  roof  onto  it.  Loisy,  go 
straight  off  and  fetch  him  a  bit  o'  bread." 

"  I  don't  believe  he's  very  hungry,"  said  Kate, — "  he  had 
his  dinner  before  we  came  away." 

"  Do  tell !"  said  Mrs.  Flinter;  "but  maybe  he'll  eatsun- 
'thin.     Poor  old  feller !  I  wish  it  war  plum  cake  !" 

And  Wolfgang  took  the  dingy  bread  in  his  white  teeth, 
rather  than  to  hurt  her  feelings  by  a  refusal, — very  much 
as  his  master  would  have  done  in  similar  circumstances. 

The  indoor  look  of  things  was  not  out  of  keeping  with 
the  exterior,  though  there  was  rather  more  arrangement 
and  neatness ;  but  in  justice  to  Mrs.  Flinter  it  must  be 
allowed  that  extreme  poverty  and  half  a  dozen  children,  do 
not  tend  to  the  nice  ordering  of  a  log  cabin.  The  room 
into  which  we  were  ushered  had  a  prevailing  odour  of 
tobacco  and  cooking, — not  the  pleasant  smell  of  good  food 
well  cooked,  but  that  sickly,  unwholesome  atmosphere 
which  marks  deficiencies  on  both  sides  of  the  stew-pan. 
There  was  no  appearance  of  dinner  however,  but  the  stove, 
which  for  want  of  a  third  leg  rested  on  a  pile  of  bricks, 
still  spoke  of  a  recent  fire. 

A  sort  of  bed  in  one  corner  held  an  oldish,  infirm  woman, 
who  was  covered  with  a  very  gay  specimen  of  patchwork : 
a  few  wooden  and  splinter  chairs  stood  about  in  the  way,  a 
few  children  ditto ;  while  over  the  table  hung  a  little  look- 
ing-glass, and  over  that  a  bunch  of  fresh  asparagus.     The 


DOLLARS  AXD  CENTS.  357 

window  by  the  bed  was  partially  shielded  by  a  white  cur- 
tain, but  there  seemed  small  need  of  it ;  for  on  the  outside 
a  large  hemlock  shot  up  towards  the  blue  sky,  far  beyond 
the  ridge-pole  of  the  little  cabin,  and  its  lower  branches 
rubbed  and  scratched  against  every  pane  of  glass  within 
their  reach,  forming  a  perfect  barrier  to  eyes  without  or 
within.  Through  one  breach  in  the  window  a  curious  shoot 
had  even  found  its  way  into  the  room,  and  now  hung  forth 
its  feathery  green  foliage  in  singular  contrast  to  everything 
else  there. 

Mr.  Ellis  walked  up  to  the  sick  woman,  who  seemed 
overjoyed  at  the  sight  of  Wolfgang,  and  Mrs.  Flinter 
busied  herself  in  clearing  away  the  children  and  picking 
out  the  best  chairs  for  us. 

"What  is  your  name  ?"  said  Kate,  to  a  little  tow  mop 
in  the  corner,  near  which  she  had  seated  herself. 

The  child  looked  gloomily  up,  disclosing  a  dirty  face 
below  the  mop,  but  spoke  not. 

"  Charley  !  where's  your  manners  V  said  his  sister  Loisy 
in  a  sharp  voice,  and  for  the  first  time  removing  her  eyes 
from  us.  "  Take  your  fingers  out  of  your  mouth  and  be- 
have !     His  name's  Charley,  Miss." 

"  I  h'aint  got  a  thing  to  give  you  to  eat !"  said  our  host- 
ess in  a  disturbed  tone — "  Mary  Jane !  leave  the  lady's 
dress  be ! — we  don't  never  make  much  count  o'  cake  up 
here,  nor  pies  nother." 

"  O  we  don't  want  anything  to  eat,"  said  Kate, — "  I 
should  like  a  glass  of  water  if  you  please  Mrs.  Flinter." 

"I'm  wonderfully  on't  for  glasses  too,"  said  Mrs.  Flin- 
ter,— "the  children's  for  ever  and  the  day  after  a  breakin 
'em  !  But  there's  water  enough,  if  so  be  you  wouldn't 
mind  drinkin'  out  o'  the  dipper." 

"  A  teacup  would  do  perfectly,"  said  Kate ;  and  out  of 
two  most  unmated  specimens  of  crockery  we  at  last  satis- 
fied our  thirst. 

"  What  excellent  water  !"  said  I. 

"It's  good  it  is,"  said  Mrs.  Flinter,  "for  there  aiu't 
nothin'  else  to  be  had  here  for  the  asking." 

"Yes,  you  must  have  to  bring  things  a  great  way  ;  but 
I  suppose  the  other  road  is  smoother." 

"  There  ain't  but  one  road,  and  that's  where  you  come 


358  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

up.  He  works  to  Wiamee  and  backs  the  weighty  things 
home  o'  nights,  and  the  children  just  fetch  the  rest  day- 
times." 

"  Not  up  that  little  steep  path  T 

"  There  ain't  no  other,"  repeated  Mrs.  Flinter.  "  Why 
laws  a  me !  Miss  Howards,  little  'Minadab,  that  ain't  but 
knee-high  to  a  mouse,  '11  fetch  along  sich  a  bag  of  meal ! 
you  wouldn't  believe !" 

"  He  is  older  than  this  one  ?"  I  said,  looking  at  the  mop. 

"  Well  yes — but  Charley's  wonderful  strong  too,  when 
he's  a  mindter." 

"And  them's  Squire  Howard's  datas,"  said  the  sick 
woman  looking  from  Mr.  Ellis  to  us.  "  Many's  the  time 
I've  heerd  tell  on  'em  !  There  ain't  much  up  here  worth 
comin'  to  see,"  she  continued  with  a  smile  as  we  moved 
our  chairs  to  the  bed-foot, — "  folks  on  the  mounting  lives 
curous  ways  sometimes.  Miss  Howard." 

"  It  must  be  rather  hard  living  up  here  indeed,"  said 
Kate's  gentle  voice,  which  had  ail  the  sweetness  of  sym- 
pathy ;  "  I  wish  we  could  do  something  to  make  it  pleas- 
anter." 

"That's  just  what  you've  done  a' ready,"  said  the  woman. 
"Visiters  is  scuss  in  these  days,  and  it's  a  pleasure  to  see 
'em — when  they're  good  ones.  Sayin'  nothin'  o'  you  all, 
that  'ere  dog's  better  than  a  doctor." 

And  she  turned  herself  to  look  again  at  Wolfgang,  who 
sat  gravely  by  her  side  as  if  he  had  been  the  very  gentle- 
man referred  to. 

"  Mother  thinks  a  wonderful  sight  of  him,"  said  Mrs. 
Flinter,  "  'cos  he  used  to  come  here  with  young  Mr.  Col- 
lingwood." 

The  very  name  brought  a  flush  of  delight  to  the  pale 
cheeks  of  the  sick  woman. 

"If  ever  a  blessed  angel  come  into  a  place  like  this!" 
she  said,  clasping  her  hands  energetically,  "  it  was  when  he 
did!  O  sir,  we  was  poor  indeed  till  he  come  to  tell  us 
how  '  we  might  be  made  rich' ! — And  now,"  she  added,  "  1 
don't  want  for  anything !" 

Nobody  answered  her — nobody  could, — Kate's  head  had 
sunk  on  her  hands,  and  for  a  few  moments  we  sat  in  abso- 
lute silence.     Then  Mr.  Ellis  rose  to  go. 


DOLLARH  AXD   CHyXS.  359 

"  I  never  come  up  here,"  he  said,  "  without  learning  what 
does  me  good.  You  see  Miss  Kate,  there  is  'neither 
Greek  nor  Jew,  Barbarian,  Scythian,  bond  nor  free,  but 
Christ  is  all !' 

'  Lifers  poor  distinctions  vanish  here' — 

Goodbye  Mrs.  Barstow — '  hold  fast  that  which  thou  hast 
received,  that  no  man  take  thy  crown,'  for  '  he  that  shall 
come  will  come,  and  shall  not  tarry.' " 

" '  Even  so' !"  she  answered  looking  brightly  at  him ; 
and  then  turning  to  us  she  said, 

"It's  a  -yvonderful  pleasure  to  see  you — maybe  you'd 
come  again  1" 

"  We  will  certainly,"  said  Kate,  "  and  bring  Wolfgang." 
The  wet  eyelashes  and  trembling  lips  gave  full  security 
for  the  promise. 

Mrs.  Barstow  smiled  thankfully,  and  squeezed  our  hands 
with  all  the  good  will  in  the  world ;  and  then  Mrs.  Flinter 
followed  us  to  the  door. 

"  How  does  the  doctor  say  your  mother  is  V  inquired 
Mr.  Ellis  when  we  were  out. 

"He  don't  just  say  sir — she's  pretty  much  of  a  much- 
ness,— she  don't  get  no  weller,  and  she  don't  get  no 
worser." 

"  Mind  you  send  to  me  if  you  want  anything,"  was  his 
parting  salutation,  and  we  walked  away. 

It  seemed  as  if  that  road  home  led  us  through  all  the 
shades  of  human  life.  Now,  the  way  softened  and  smoothed 
— here  there  was  an  extra  flower,  and  there  a  finer  tree, — 
then  came  the  farm  lands  in  all  the  beauty  of  slant  sun- 
beams and  fine  crops,  the  work  of  hard  labour  ;  and  then 
the  Lea  grounds,  where  toil  had  been  but  was  not  now — 
at  least  for  the  owner.  We  turned  from  them,  and 
mounted  our  own  'hill  with  surely  not  an  ungrateful  per- 
ception of  our  own  midway  situation  and  prospects. 

"  Now  Mr.  Ellis,"  said  Kate,  speaking  for  almost  the 
first  time  since  we  left  Pillimaquady  ;  "  will  you  promise 
to  apply  to  us  if  we  can  do  any  good  1  our  hands  might 
be  useful,  to  say  nothing  of  mamma's  head." 

"  Well  I  don't  know,"  said  Mr.  Ellis  looking  kindly  at 
her  and  then  at  me. — "  People  that  have  so  much  to  do  in 


360  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

Wisconsin  can't  have  much  time  for  the  home  department. 
Have  you  had  a  pleasant  walk  ]" 

"  Very  !"— 

"Then  sleep  sound  to-night, — you  look  as  if  you 
needed  it." 

So  wore  on  the  summer.  Two  or  three  times  Mr. 
Howard  came  to  spend  a  day  with  us,  but  travelling  was 
too  expensive  to  be  much  indulged  in, — we  were  obliged 
to  be  content  with  the  cheaper  intercourse  of  pen  and  ink. 
The  first  set  of  lectures  had  given  place  to  a  second,  but 
it  was  to  end  with  August,  my  father  wrote,  and  then  we 
hoped  to  be  all  together  again.  He  had  an  offer  too,  or 
hopes  of  it,  of  an  agency  in  our  neighbourhood  that  would 
enable  him  to  stay  at  home;  and  he  was  trying  very  hard 
to  dispose  of  as  much  of  the  Glen  Luna  lands  as  would 
pay  off  our  debts  and  rid  us  of  all  farms  and  farm  cares. 

For  Mr.  Howard  had  proved  to  his  own  satisfaction,  that 
his  niche  was  not  in  the  temple  of  Ceres. 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  361 


CHAPTEK  XXXYII, 


Richer  than  doing'  nothing  for  a  banble ; 
Prouder  than  rustling  iu  unpaid-for  silt. 

Shaespeare. 


*'  rpHERE  is  no  money  in  this  letter,  after  all,"  said  Mrs. 

jL  Howard  as  she  laid  down  one  that  had  just  come  from 
my  flither. 

•'  How  does  that  happen.  I  wonder,"  said  Kale. 

'•  O  the  old  way — poor  people  cannot  be  paid  until  rich 
people  think  it  convenient." 

"  Did  you  want  it  particularly  just  now  V  said  Kate,  in  a 
sort  of  abstracted  aside  from  the  letter. 

"I  wished  very  much  to  give  Mrs.  Barrington  some, 
and  we  want  tea  and  sugar,  and  Grace  wants  a  pair  of 
shoes." 

"  Never  mind  mamma,  I'll  mend  these.*' 

"Are  we  quite  out  of  tea]'' 

"No,  there's  a  little  left,  and  we  have  plenty  of  coffee— 
the  rest  of  the  sugar  had  better  be  kept  for  that." 

"  We  shall  have  to  go  back  to  our  old  economy  in  the 
sweet  line,"  said  Kate.  "  I  think  he  is  very  tired  of  being 
away  from  home,  mamma." 

"  No,"  said  ^Mrs.  Howard  answering  the  last  words  with 
a  sigh,  "  I  have  no  intention  of  going  back  to  that  sort  of 
economy, — I  have  grown  wiser.  Instead  of  struggling  to 
live  along  by  such  shifts  in  the  hope  that  things  will  mend, 
the  way  is  to  set  to  and  mend  them." 

'•  I  am  sure  you  have  done  your  part,  mamma.  But  can't 
we  '  live  along'  till  the  next  letter  comes  ]" 

"  The  only  thing  I  care  about,"  said  my  stepmother,  "  is 
our  board, — I  cannot  bear  to  be  behindhand  with  that. 

16 


362  DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS. 

And  you  see  your  father  will  not  be  home  so  soon  as' he 
expected." 

"  But  Mrs.  Barrington  will  wait,  mamma — it  won't  make 
much  difference  to  them, — it  can't,  for  we  cost  them  very 
little;  and  the  money  will  be  just  as  good  when  it  comes. 
I  thought  there  was  some  left  of  the  last  supply?" 

"  A  faw  dollars, — but  I  don"t  quite  like  to  leave  ourselves 
without  any.     Perhaps  I  had  better  give  her  that." — 

We  had  been  talking  while  the  breakfast-table  was  clear- 
ing away, — making  a  long  enough  pause  in  the  important 
places  for  our  little  handmaid  to  load  her  tray  and  walk  off 
with  it.  The  table-cloth  had  hardly  disappeared  before 
^Irs.  Bai'rington  came  hurrying  in,  quite  out  of  breath  with 
her  own  eagerness. 

'•  'Dencv  is  so  hateful !"  she  said, — "  she  won't  nevet^  shut 
tlie  doors !" 

We  looked  up  in  some  surprise,  but  Mrs.  Barrington's 
face  was  the  very  picture  of  smiling  good-humour.  It  was 
only  a  Pickwickian  hateful. 

"  I  didn't  know  they  wei'e  open,"  said  my  stepmother. 

"They  wasn't  all — only  the  kitchen  door;  but  he  takes 
on  so  about  grandmother's  pipe, — he  says  if  ever  a  thing 
went  every  place  it  was  t'bacca." 

"  It  very  seldom  comes  here,"  said  Kate. 

*'  Grandmother  kint  do  without  her  pipe,  neither,"  pur- 
sued Mrs.  Barrington.  "  I'll  fetch  some  yarn  the  first  time 
I  go  to  Wiarnee — she  don't  smoke  not  nigh  so  much  when 
she  has  knittin'  work.  Why  Mrs.  Howard,  when  she  ain't 
got  nothin  else  to  do,  she'll  smoke  three  sixpenny  papers — 
that's  eighteen-pence  worth  in  a  week  !  And  I  do  try  to  keep 
the  doors  shut,  but  the  children  has  no  mind  to  anything." 

My  stepmother  assured  her  that  the  pipe  gave  us-  no 
annoyance ;  and  then  according  to  her  former  intention  she 
offered  Mrs.  Barrington  part  payment  of  what  was  owing 
her.  If  it  had  been  labelled  as  the  last  we  had,  Mrs.  Bar 
rington  could  not  have  refused  it  more  decidedly. 

"I  ain't  got  no  use  for  it  now,"  she  said  putting  her 
hands  behind  her,  "and  I  couldn't  do  no  less  than  spend  it. 
By  and  by,  when  it  draws  on  to  winter,  I'll  likely  want  to 
get  some  things  for  the  children." 

"  But  you  may  as  well  take  it  now,"  said  my  stepmother, 


DOLLAES  AM)   CEXTS.  363 

"and  then  you'll  have  it  when  you  want  it — maybe  I 
shouldn't,  just  at  the  right  time." 

'■  It  won't  make  no  odds  then,''  said  Mrs.  Barrington, — 
"  if  I  was  to  take  it  now  Mrs.  Howard,  I  couldn't  keep  it. 
Ezra  says  dollars  never  stood  still  on  top  o'  sich  a  hill,  and 
he  don't  know  where  to  find  'em  when  they  get  to  the 
bottom,  he  says,  nor  h'ain't  got  nothin'  to  show  for  'em 
neither.  And  he  couldn't  keep  'em,  no  more.  My  husband 
says  he  knows  I  make  holes  in  his  pockets  instead  of  mend- 
ing 'em,  for  he  finds  more  every  day,  he  says,  and  I  tell  him 
it's  him  makes  and  I  mend." 

"1  think  you  could  manage  to  keep  it,"  said  Mrs.  How- 
ard smiling.  "  and  I  would  much  rather  you  should." 

"Yes  ma'am,"  said  Mrs.  Barrington.  in  assent  to  my 
stepmother's  intentions  but  not  at  all  to  her  request.  '•  But 
my  I  there's  no  tellin'  I — it  beats  all  how  money  goes. 
There's  little  Benny  asked  his  flither  yesterday  to  give 
him  a  sixpen',  and  he  didn't  have  one  as  it  fell  out,  however 
he  giv  him  a  fivepen'.  And  Benny  he  went  off  to  school, 
and  he  giv  his  fivepen'  for  five  apples  to  one  of  the  play 
boys.  Simple  child !  His  fother  said  if  he  ever  knowed 
him  to  do  sich  a  heedless  act  again,  he  didn't  know  but  he 
should  whip  him." 

A  startling  rap  at  the  door  interrupted  the  conversation. 

"  Well  of  all  things  I"'  exclaimed  Mrs.  Barrington  ;  and 
she  hastily  ran  out  shutting  our  door  behind  her.  Tlie  thin 
boards  kept  out  sight  but  not  sound. 

'•  Good  morning."  said  a  familiar  voice.  '•  Where's  the 
antecedent  to  the  masculine  pronoun  Mrs.  Barrmgton  1" 

'-  Sir  ?"  was  the  reply. 

"  I  say  where  is  he  ?" 

"  O — "  said  Mrs.  Barrington,  who  knew  a  pronoun  when 
she  heard  it — '*  my  !  he  ain't  to  home  Mr.  Carvill." 

"  And  in  which  of  the  forty-nine  agricultural  departments 
shall  I  find  him  ]" 

''  Xo  sir,"  repeated  Mis.  Barrington.  " He's  away  to 
mill  with  a  load  o'  wheat." 

'•  Confound  the  wheat !"  said  Mr.  Carvill.  "  When  will 
he  be  back  ?" 

"I  don't  know  sir,  it  can't  be  long, — ^he  didn't  hardly  get 
his  breakfast  afore  he  started,  and  he's  only  went  to  mill, 


364  DOLLARS  AXD   CE^'TS. 

and  then  to  Squire  Brown's  to  tell  him  about  the  hay,  and 
then  to  Wiamee  for  the  ox-chain." 

"And  everywhere  else  afterwards,  I  suppose." 

"  He  said  he  calculated  to  plough  this  afternoon,"  said 
Mrs.  Harrington,  as  if  that  held  out  some  slight  hope  of 
Ezra's  coming  home  before  night. 

"  I  calculate  he  won't,"  said  Mr.  Carvill.  "  Well — I  may 
as  well  wait  awhile.     I  suppose  I  can  go  in  here  as  usual." 

"Stop  sir,  if  you  please  !"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Barrington  as 
Mr.  Carvill's  impatient  foot  crossed  the  passage. 

"  I'm  going  to  stop,  till  Mr.  Barrington  comes.  What's 
the  matter  ?  is  the  room  whitewashing  or  are  all  the  chil- 
dren asleep  in  it  ?  I  won't  wake  them  up — it  will  do  well 
enough — I  want  nothing  but  a  chair." 

If  Mr.  Carvill  had  never  been  surprised  before,  he  was 
when  he  had  thus  ushered  himself  into  our  sitting-room. 
Astonishment  or  extraordinary  selfcommand  suppressed 
even  his  usual  tokens  of  feeling,  and  he  stood  not  only  mo- 
tionless but  silent ;  while  Mrs.  Barrington's  distressed  face 
in  the  passage,  touched  off  the  scene  so  that  we  were  very 
near  bursting  into  a  laugh. 

My  stepmother  was  the  first  to  speak. 

"Here  is  a  chair  Mr.  Carvill,"  she  said, — "if.  that  is  all 
you  want  we  can  supply  you." 

"  Hard  to  tell  what  a  man  wants  when  he's  got  too 
much,"  said  Mr.  Carvill  abstractedly,  as  he  bowed  in  an- 
swer, while  Mrs.  Barrington  quietly  closed  the  door. 

"  I  hope  I  need  not  assure  you  Mrs.  Howard,  that  the 
idea  of  ladies  being  so  tired  at  the  foot  of  this  hill  that  they 
had  to  come  up  to  rest,  never  entered  my  head."  And 
then  crossing  the  room  to  where  we  sat,  he  said, 

"  Young  ladies,  I  have  had  an  apology  in  my  pocket  for 
the  last  six  months  directed  to  you.  1  hope  the  original 
lustre  is  not  so  dimmed  that  you  will  refuse  to  receive  if?" 

"  I  hope  not  sir,"  said  Kate  quietly. 

"Well  you  shall  judge,"  said  Mr.  Carvill,  "for  here  it 
is.     As  first, 

I  was  provoked — 
secondly,  in  a  passion.    • 
thirdly,  impolite, 
fourthly,  penitent. 


DOLLARS  AXD    CEXTS.  3G5 

Now  will  you  and  Miss  Grace  give  me  a  receipt  in  full  ? 
Or  if  either  lady  felt  herself  particularly  aggrieved — per- 
haps— I  believe  that  might  be  so — I  will  with  pleasure  give 
my  apology  a  special  direction.  How  does  the  case  stand 
Miss  Howard  ?" 

"  You  know  Mr.  Carvill,"  said  Kate,  colouring  a  little 
but  still  speaking  with  the  same  quiet  steadiness,  "  the 
essence  of  an  offence  lies  in  the  intention.  No  one  can 
answer  such  a  question  but  yourself." 

"  Never  answer  questions — to  myself  nor  other  people," 
said  Mr.  Carvill  looking  not  at  all  displeased.  "Am  I  to 
have  a  receipt  for  this  'essence'? — whatever  it  was." 

"  Certainly !"  said  Kate  smiling,  "  though  one  of  your 
items  is  a  little  indistinct,  Mr.  Carvill, — but  for  your  good 
decyphering  we  should  have  been  puzzled." 

"Shake  hands  then,"  he  said  with  one  of  his  peculiar 
looks  which  rather  indicated  than  expressed  a  smile,  "  and 
that  will  deepen  the  impression.  And  now  I  will  correct 
my  last  mistake  as  far  as  possible,  by  bidding  you  mille 
fois  adieu  !" 

"  Our  chairs  are  quite  at  your  service,  Mr.  Carvill,"  said 
my  stepmother, — "  if  you  wish  to  wait  for  any  one  you  had 
better  sit  down.  I  think  Mrs.  Barrington  has  given  up  all 
her  spare  rooms  to  us." 

"  Rooms  !"  he  said. 

"  Yes,"  said  my  stepmother,  "  we  are  living  here  this 
summer,  for  safe  keeping  during  Mr.  Howard's  absence." 

"  Living  here  ! — on  top  of  Jack's  bean  !"' 

"  No,"  said  I  laughing,  "  we  are  not  at  the  top  yet,  only 
'  as  high  as  the  house.'  " 

"  There  is  nothing  left  for  me  but  Mrs.  Barrington's 
'well  of  all  things!'"  said  Mr.  Carvill.  "Absolutely- 
quitted  the  Moon  for  the  stars  !" 

"  I  hope  Mrs.  Carvill  is  well  ?"  said  my  stepmother. 

"  I  hope  so  too  ma'am,  but  at  present  I  am  living  in  a 
state  of  single  blessedness ;  and  the  two  days  which  have 
rolled  over  my  head  since  I  left  Mrs.  Carvill,  have  not  suffi- 
ciently aroused  her  anxiety  to  make  her  write  to  me.  Of 
course  the  only  relief  to  my  mind  lies  in  the  contempla- 
tion of  the  telegraph  wires.  Au  revoir !  I  see  Jack  has 
come." 


366  DOLLARS  AND  CEXTS. 

Whether  Mr.  Carvill  thought  his  character  as  a  gentle- 
man had  been  somewhat  jeoparded,  or  whether  the  small 
portion  of  Collingwood  in  him  was  touched  by  our  reverses, 
he  certainly  seemed  to  desire  friendly  terms;  and  a  few 
days  after  his  involuntary  visit  he  sent  us  a  brace  of  ducks, 
one  of  which  wore  round  its  leg  this  label : 

"  A  continuation  of  the  last  item." 

Ezra  Barrington  delivered  them  without  a  word ;  but 
upon  my  stepmother's  charging  him  with  her  thanks,  he 
gave  one  of  his  uncompromising  grunts,  and  remarked 
that  "  'twa'n't  a  millenium  if  folks  did  once  in  a  while  have 
common  sense, — the  only  wonder  was  they  didn't  get  it 
oftener." 

"  You  will  not  forget  my  message  ?"  sak3  Mrs.  Howard. 

"  Well — "  said  Ezra,  "  I  do'  know  as  I  kin, — it's  stowed 
away  in  my  back  settlements — safe  enough  I  guess.  The 
thing  is  whether  I  kin  ever  get  it  out !" 

The  loveliest  of  September  weather  had  set  in, — bright, 
fresh  days,  and  cool  nights  that  very  soon  touched  up  our 
forest-trees.  Down  in  the  valley  the  trees  yet  laughed  at 
it,  except  now  and  then  a  sensitive  butternut  whose  "yel- 
low leaf"  came  upon  small  provocation  ;  but  on  the  higher 
ground  the  fall  colours  began  to  come  out  beautifully.  It 
was  as  if  Autumn  took  her  stand  upon  the  hills  and  there 
unfurled  her  banners  as  a  signal  for  all  nature  to  bow  subjec- 
tion. Now  might  be  seen  a  cluster  of  maples  assuming  the 
I'oyal  colours  at  first  in  a  mere  cockade  or  favour, — one 
branch  stretching  out  over  the  road  its  crimson  leaves, 
while  the  rest  of  the  tree  remained  unchanged.  Then  a 
group  of  loyal  oaks  came  out  in  the  darkest  red,  from  the 
top  leaf  to  the  lowest  branch  that  held  consultation  wMth 
the  maples.  The  white  oaks  chose  to  appear  in  orange, 
and  the  hickories  in  bright  yellow — as  if  liberty  poles 
were  worth  gilding;  while  all  the  militia — sumachs  and 
brambles  and  cornus  and  buck-thorns  came  hurrying  in, 
wearing  what  uniforms  they  could  pick  up — green  spotted 
w^ith  red  or  striped  with  black,  or  leaves  that  w^ere  indeed 
of  one  colour,  but  so  deficient  in  leafets  that  it  reminded 
one  of. 


"  Upon  one  foot  he  had  one  boot, 
And  t'other  in  his  hand  sir," 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  367 

The  evergreens  stood  out  in  stout  rebellion  ;  only  the 
arbor- vitup  assumed  a  sprinkling  of  brown  leaves  for  a 
time — and  then  dropped  them.  But  how  fiist  the  otiier 
trees  Ciime  in  !  after  the  example  of  a  few  leaders,  and  the 
pL'r>;uasi<)n  of  a  sharp  frost  or  two.  The  season  was  unusual- 
ly cold, — summer  had  ended  with  the  name  of  it,  and  the 
fall  davs  were  not  idle.  We  befijan  to  think  it  hish  time 
for  us  to  be  at  home  and  established  for  the  winter.  Still 
my  father  came  not ;  and  as  he  was  staying  away  for  the 
means  to  stay  at  home,  we  were  forced  to  be  content.  Our 
letters  were  an  interchange  of  patience  and  quiet  waiting, 
though  we  were  not  less  weary  of  the  separation  than  Mr. 
Howard,  and  though  summer  dresses  were  in  strong  need 
of  successors. 

We  had  taken  a  little  money  and  a  long  walk  one  day 
to  try  what  the  Wiamee  stores  could  furnish,  and  were  re- 
turning under  the  full  conviction  that  an  empty  purse  never 
tnund  nmch  anywhere,  when  the  distance  was  suddenly  oc- 
cupied by  a  great  cloud  of  dust.  Of  course  we  turned  out 
for  the  carriage  ! — but  the  carriage  was  neighbourly  and 
stopped. 

"  How  d'  do  f  said  Mrs.  Egerton's  hat  and  feathers,  (the 
wind  blew  away  the  most  of  her  voice.)  "been  walking? — 
going  homel" 

We  made  answer  by  a  comprehensive  yes. 

"  Well  get  in  here  and  I'll  take  you  home.  Stephen  !  let 
down  the  steps." 

The  footman  obeyed,  and  a  scornful  little  bronze  boot 
drew  itself  away  from  the  open  coach-door.  The  silk  di-ess 
to  match  was  taken  equal  care  of. 

"Come  !"  said  the  lady, — "jump  in  !" 

But  having  caught  sight  of  at  least  two  Miss  Willets  in 
the  carriage,  Mrs.  Howard  declined. 

"There's  plenty  of  room,"  said  IMrs.  Egerton — "we 
can  sit  close  you  know — Gary  and  Amelia  will  take  Kate 
betw^een  them,  and — O  Michael  take  care  of  those  horses ! 
Eh !" 

The  silk  dress  received  another  little  expressive  twitch, 
and  the  horses  danced. 

^*  Thank  you  Mrs,  Egerton,"  said  my  stepmother  with 
bard-won  gravity, — "  we  had  rather  walk." 


3GS  DOLLARS  AND  CENTS. 

"  Well  I  must  have  one  of  you.  Come  Grace — I  shall  be 
very  much  hurt  if  you  don't." 

And  Mrs.  Howard  and  Kate  fiirly  put  me  in — not  be- 
cause I  was  wanted  but  because  J  was  tired. 

For  a  few  minutes  the  Miss  Willets  found  full  occupa- 
tion in  surveying  me,  whom  they  had  hardly  seen  since  I 
was  a  child.  During  Mrs.  Willet's  first  summers  at  the 
Moon,  they  had  been  at  boarding-school.  From  appear- 
ances I  judged  that  they  had  never  seen  a  calico  dress,  nor  a 
tartan  shawl,  nor  probably  a  straw  bonnet  in  October  ;  but 
comforting  myself  with  the  proverb  "  that  dress  is  best 
which  best  fits  me,"  I  leaned  back  in  the  carriage  in  a  very 
equable  state  of  mind. 

"Then  you  won't  go  to  Greenleaf's  Aunt  Egerton ! — " 
exclaimed  Miss  Amelia  suddenly.     "How  provoking  !" 

"  Why  yes  my  dear — I  think  w^e  can.  Are  you  in  any 
hurry  to  get  home  Grace  ?" 

Miss  Willet  looked  as  if  the  question  were  a  conventional 
absurdity,  and  I  answered, 

"  No  ma'am." 

And  felt  that  I  wished  Greenleaf's  were  at  the  distance 
of  just  half  the  daylight  that  remained  of  that  first  of 
October. 

"Pull  the  string  my  dear,"  said  Mrs.  Egerton,  "and 
give  your  orders, — he  knows  where  the  place  is." 

The  place  was  a  little  nest  of  hot-houses  in  "  a  most 
chosen  plot  of  fertile  land" ;  with  a  fair  south-eastern  ex- 
posure, and  sheltering  high  ground  and  evergreens  towards 
the  cold  regions.  I  had  been  there  years  before,  when  we 
first  came  to  Glen  Luna,  but  I  now  went  under  new  au- 
spices. I  was  desired  to  get  out  of  the  carriage,  and  then  I 
walked  quietly  in  after  the  two  Miss  Willets  who  fluttered 
after  their  aunt  as  close  as  possible.  Once  in,  I  could  spare 
their  attentions  and  bestow  mine  upon  the  flowers ;  but 
Mrs.  Egerton  needed  me. 

"My  dear  Grace,  I  am  going  into  this  little  office  to 
speak  to  Mr.  Greenleaf  about  my  garden.  Will  you  come 
with  me?     I  never  like  to  go  anywhere  alone." 

The  head  man  sat  in  his  office  writing  letters. 

"  I  am  afraid  we  interrupt  you  sir,"  said  Mrs.  Egerton 
politely,  and  taking  a  chair. 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  SG9 

Mr.  Greenleaf  bowed, — it  might  be  in  assent  to  either 
her  words  or  action.  He  looked  up  at  the  lady  and  down 
at  his  paper,  and  then  moved  his  pen  a  little  way  off  and 
held  it  over  the  inkstand. 

"  I  want  to  see  about  a  gardener  for  my  little  place  in 
the  spring." 

"  Where's  that  ?" 

"  Down  at  the  Moon — Mr.  Egerton's  place — you  perhaps 
know  where  it  is  ?" 

No,  Mr.  Greenleaf  did  not, — he  knew  where  the  Moon 
was  well  enough. 

"  We,ll  anybody  can  tell  you.  Now  what  time  in  the 
spring  should  the  garden  be  made  ?" 

"  You  want  me  to  send  a  man  ?"  said  Mr.  Greenleaf. 
'  Yes — a  very  good  one." 

I  don't  employ  any  others.     What  sort  of  ground  is 
it?" 

"  What  sort  of  ground  V  said  Mrs.  Egerton  lookmg 
blank. 

"  Well  what  soil  ?  Now  the  Moon  gardens  is  mostly 
loom — sandy  loom,  as  good  as  can  be, — but  if  you  say  your 
place  is  further  back  there  might  happen  some  clay  in  it,  or 
nearer  the  lake  more  sand  again.  And  on  that  it  turns 
you  see — some'll  work  a  week  or  maybe  two  weeks  earlier 
than  others."  ^ 

"  Work  !"  said  Mrs.  Egerton.  "  But  Mr.  Egerton  will 
pay  the  man  just  what  he  asks — if  he  is  willing  to  work 
early  we  should  like  it  much  better." 

"  No,  no !"  said  Mr.  Greenleaf,  '*  it's  the  ground  I'm 
talking  about !  It's  friz  up  in  the  winter  you  see — and  wet, 
and  it  won't  work  till  the  frost  gets  out,  and  it  comes  in — 
grows  meller  like.  And  some  ground  comes  in  sooner  than 
others,  and  after  all  it  depends  a  great  deal  on  the  season." 

Mrs.  Egerton  looked  absolutely  mystified. 

"Don't  you  understand  1"  said  the  gardener  with  a 
despairing  appeal  to  me. 

"  O  yes,"  said  I  smiling. 

"Well  send  him  when  you  like,"  said  Mrs.  Egerton — 
"  I  don't  know  anything  about  it.  What's  the  first  thing 
to  be  planted  V 

"  'Pends  upon  what  you're  going  to  have.     If  you'll  just 


370  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

make  out  a  list  I'll  see  and  have  'em  in  the  ground  in 
time." 

"  But  I  don't  know  the  name  of  a  single  thing !  O  yes 
— we  want  endive, — and  cresses — Mr.  Egerton's  so  fond 
of  them  for  breakfast." 

"Marvin,"  said  Mr.  Greenleaf  to  a  young  apprentice, 
"just  hand  out  some  of  them  catalogues."  And  as  Mrs. 
Egerton  went  to  the  counter  Mr.  Greenleaf  returned  to  his 
letter  with  a  feeling  of  relief 

"Asparagus,"  said  Mrs.  Egerton.  "We've  got  that, 
but  it  does  not  bear  well.  How  ought  it  to  be  managed  1 
ours  has  been  allowed  to  run  up  to  seed  this  summer — will 
it  ever  get  over  it  1" 

"  Let  it  run  up  and  cut  it  down  close,"  said  Mr.  Green- 
leaf in  a  parenthesis. 

Mrs.  Egerton  looked  at  him  hopelessly. 

"Beans  we  must  have  of  course — and  everything  else 
that's  good, — ^just  put  in  what  you  can — and  radishes. 
What  time  do  you  plant  them?  What  time  will  they  be 
good  to  eat  f 

"  Somewheres  in  March,  if  you  force  'em,"  said  Marvin. 

"  Why  how  can  you  force  them  1  But  dear  me !  we 
sha'n't  be  here  in  March — I  might  have  them  sent  down — 
they'd  be  fresh  and  so  much  better  than  we  get  in  town. 
Couldn't  they  be  sent?" 

"  How  fur  ?" 

"To  Philadelphia." 

"  Cheaper  to  buy  'em  there,"  said  Marvin  rather  con- 
temptuously. 

"  Well  I  shall  leave  it  all  to  Mr.  Greenleaf.  O  the 
raspberry  bushes  need  something  done  to  them." 

"  I  guess  I'll  send  a  man  along  to-morrow  to  see  to  it," 
said  the  gardener ;  and  with  a  good-morning  that  was  the 
concentration  of  suavity  Mrs.  Egerton  carried  me  back 
into  the  greenhouse. 

"Now  my  dear  Grace,"  said  she,  "just  choose  out  any 
of  these  plants  for  yourself." 

And  while  she  was  giving  whispering  orders  to  the  man 
in  attendance  about  a  bouquet,  I  walked  up  and  down  and 
looked  at  the  plants.  Might  1  choose  one  ?  There  were 
tiny  little  geraniums  and  roses — three  inches  of  sweetness 


DOLLARS  AXD   CESTS.  371 

could  not  cost  much — and  what  a  treasure  it  would  be! 
little  cuttings,  just  struck  and  potted  off, — I  half  selected 
one,  I  half  asked  its  price,  but  when  Mrs.  Egerton  said 

"  What  have  you  chosen  V^ 

I  said,  '•  Nothing  ma'am." 

"  O  well  choose  something." 

She  walked  off  and  so  did  I,  into  a  room  filled  with 
plants  in  full  flower. 

'^See  here,"  said  Mrs.  Egerton  pointing  out  a  most 
exquisite  china  rose,  loaded  with  its  loveliest  of  all  flowers, 
*' ain't  that  beautiful?" 

My  answer  was  very  warm. 

"I've  a  great  mind  to  get  it  for  your  mother!  do  you 
think  she  would  like  to  have  it  ?  or  would  yonV 

"  O  don't  get  it  for  me,"  I  said. 

Mrs.  Egerton  stood  looking  at  the  rose,  and  I  was 
imagining  the  glow  it  would  cast  over  our  little  plain  sit- 
ting-room. 

"  1  shouldn't  know  how  to  get  it  to  her,  after  all,"  she 
said. 

Another  pause,  and  I  stole  furtive  glances  at  the  large 
placard, 

"  Flowers  and  plants  sent  anywhere  within  ten  miles." 

"  Well  1  believe  we  must  leave  it  for  to-day,"  said  Mi^. 
Egerton — "  will  this  grow  in  a  garden?"  taking  up  some 
giound-pine  fiom  the  bouquet-table. 

'•  No  ma'am." 

"  What  a  pity  !  Come  girls" — 

She  paused  outside  the  door. 

"  You  haven't  got  anything  now,  Grace." 

"That's  no  matter,  ma'am, ' 

"It's  t(:)0  bad  to  bring  you  up  here  for  nothing — but  I'm 
so  dreadfully  tired !     Well  get  in." 

The  carriage  rolled  smoothly  on,  and  my  thoughts  fled 
away  to  the  few  bright  spots  in  the  world  that  said  human 
nature  was  not  all  alike. 

"  ^ly  dear  Grace,"  said  T^Irs.  Egerton  as  we  stopped  at 
the  foot  of  the  hill,  "you  look  tired." 

"  A  little,  ma'am." 

"  1  wish  we  could  drive  to  the  door.  Are  you  afraid  to 
go  up  the  hill  alone  ?" 


872  DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  . 

"  No  ma'am,"  I  said  with  a  sudden  feeling  that  would 
have  braved  anything. 

"  Goodbye  then — 1  would  walk  up  with  you,  but  I'm  so 
tired.  Give  my  love  to  your  mother  and  sister.  Home, 
Stephen." 

The  first  few  steps  up  the  hill  were  taken  briskly  enough, 
but  then  I  felt  that  I  was  tired,  and  then  that  the  sun  was 
near  down  and  I  alone.  But  I  reached  home  in  safety,  and 
spent  all  my  indignation  in  quieting  that  of  mamma  and 
Kate. 


DOLLARS  AND   CEXTS.  373 


CHAPTEK   XXXYIII. 


Fields,  goods,  and  far-off  chattels  we  have  none : 
These  narrow  bounds  contain  our  private  store 
Of  tilings  earth  makes  and  sun  doth  shine  upon ; 
Here  are  they  in  our  sight— we  have  no  more. 

Wordsworth. 


WE  were  very  busy  now,  preparing  for  Mr.  Howard's 
return  and  our  own  removal  to  Glen  Luna.  Every 
fine  day  we  went  down  there  and  spent  some  time  in  put- 
ting things  in  order, — even  linen  was  got  out  and  beds 
made  up,  and  wood  laid  in  the  fireplace.  How  pleasant  it 
was  to  do  all  this  !  to  think  of  being  once  more  together 
and  at  home ! 

One  not  very  pleasant  surprise  awaited  us — we  must  do 
without  Caddie.  During  her  residence  at  the  Moon,  she  had 
found  an  old-country-man  to  whom  for  some  hidden  cause  she 
took  a  foncy ;  and  they  were  to  be  married  in  November. 

"  He's  not  just  unknownst  to  me  neither,"  said  Caddie, 
"  for  he's  from  the  one  place  with  meself,  and  little  Pat 
Maloney  that  was  sister's  son  to  my  brother-in-law  (that's 
him  that  let  in  the  sheriflTs,  ye  mind)  was  this  boy's  cousin 
once  removed. — so  we  felt  acquainted  like." 

Affliirs  being  in  this  state  we  concluded  to  try  once  more 
our  old  experiment  of  helping  ourselves.  "  For  a  while," 
Mrs.  Howard  said,  "  till  we  could  see  a  little  how  things 
were  going." 

Meantime  our  kind  friends  on  "Jack's  bean"  came  do^vn 
with  us  to  do  whatever  they  could  think  of,  and  would  fain 
have  given  us  at  least  a  few  days  steady  attendance;  but 
failing  to  get  our  consent  to  this  they  finished  all  manner 
of  odd  jobs  without  asking  leave.  Wood  was  cut  and 
brought,  the  cow  driven  home  and  milked ;  and  before  we  had 
fairly  laid  off  bonnets  and  shawls  upstairs  both  fires  were  lit, 


374  DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS. 

and  the  tea-kettle  was  getting  up  its  steam  as  fast  as  possi- 
ble. As  it  was  by  this  time  near  dark,  Elisha  filled  every 
attainable  pail  with  fresh  water,  and  then  went  home  with 
his  mother ;  while  Mr.  Barrington  sat  down  in  the  kitchen 
to  await  the  stage-hour. 

In  a  happier  mood  than  we  had  been  in  for  months  we 
stood  round  our  little  sitting-room  fire.  Never  had  the 
house  looked  so  pleasant,  so  cheerful, — our  eyes  fairly  rev- 
elled in  the  pretty  things  about  us, — the  very  lettering  of 
the  books  seemed  to  welcome  us  back;  and  Hebe  and 
shells,  the  furniture,  and  even  the  well-bred  colours  of  the 
carpet  had  many  a  glance  of  affection  and  greeting.  Then 
the  arranging  of  our  own  tea-tray  and  cups  and  saucers,  the 
hunting  out  whatever  there  was  in  the  house  that  was  good 
to  eat — it  was  all  mere  play.  We  had  another  instance  of 
Mrs.  Harrington's  kindness  in  a  nicely-packed  basket  that 
stood  in  the  sitting-room  when  we  came  down  stairs,  and 
held  the  result  of  similar  researches  made  by  her  in  her 
own  house.  But  it  was  useless  to  thank  anybody, — Ezra 
only  "  guessed  there  waVt  much  in  it  that  was  good  for 
any  thin' ;" — in  which  however  he  was  mistaken, — the  bread 
alone  saved  us  all  baking  trouble  fur  several  days. 

Singularly  enough  (considering  how  we  expected  it)  the 
stage  was  true  to  its  time,  and  Mr.  Howard's  cold  walk  of 
three  miles  brought  him  home  not  very  long  after  we  had 
given  him  up.  For  a  while  we  were  too  happy  to  say 
much — hearts  and  tongues  were  too  unsteady  and  fluctua- 
ting to  be  trusted  ;  but  as  the  first  excitement  wore  off  we 
saw  that  my  father  looked  pale  and  weary,  and  we  began 
to  talk  as  fast  as  possible  to  cheer  him  up. 

"How  long  have  you  travelled  to-day  papa  1"  said  Kate. 

"Since  eight  o'clock." 

"  How  tired  you  must  be!  we  will  have  tea  directly. 
"Would  you  like  anything  more  substantial  than  toast  and 
sweetmeats?     What  time  did  you  have  dinjierf 

"  I  haven't  had  any  dinner  to-day,"  said  my  father. 

'•  Haven't  eaten  anything  since  breakfastT' 

"  No — except  three  or  four  ginger-nuts." 

"  O  you  were  very  wrong  !"  said  my  stepmother, — "  it  is 
enough  to  make  you  sick." 

"  How  could  you  do  so  papa  1" 


DOLLARS  AXD   CENTS.  375 

"Because  I  hadn't  money  enough  to  pay  for  a  dinner — 
that's  the  truth,"  said  Mr.  Howard. 

It  was  all  gone  then  ! — pleasure  and  excitement  and  talk- 
ativeness,— but  for  the  necessity  of  getting  tea,  I  believe  we 
should  have  sat  still  and  looked  at  each  other,  forgetting  all 
about  it.  As  it  was,  Kate  and  1  went  off  in  quick  time. 
"There  is  no  telling  where  a  blessing  may  light,"  as  Ezra 
Harrington  had  once  said,  and  truly  his  wife's  basket  was 
one  that  night, — failing  that,  our  cupboard  had  been  as 
bare  as  Mother  Hubbard's  of  old ;  but  now  from  its  re- 
cesses a  roast  chicken  walked  into  the  room,  and  presented 
an  imposing  appearange  upon  the  tea-table;  and  we 
had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Mr.  Howard  make  up  for  his 
day's  fast.  Our  own  appetites  were  not  worth  talking 
about. 

"  What's  the  matter  with  you  all  f  said  my  father  when 
he  had  sent  his  cup  for  a  finishing  draught  of  tea, — "  you 
are  looking  mighty  sober.  I  shall  have  some  money  by 
and  by  Ihope." 

There  was  a  disagreeable  little  cloud  scattered  by  these 
words  :  we  had  been  questioning  whether  the  summer's 
expenses  could  have  eaten  up  the  summer's  gains. 

"  You  mean  to  stay  at  home  now  V  said  my  step- 
mother. 

"  Indeed  I  do !  that  lecturing  business  is  poor  fun — in 
this  wav  of  managino;  it.  And  now  that  we  have  some- 
thing  to  begin  upon,  I  must  try  to  find  enough  to  do  in 
this  region." 

"  That  agency  papa  ?"  said  Kate. 

"  No  my  dear,  that  is  otherwise  disposed  of.  But  I 
doubt  not  I  can  find  other  things  that  will  pay  as  well." 

"  We  might  sell  some  of  our  superfluous  furniture," 
said  Mrs.  Howard,  "  and  that  would  keep  us  along  till  you 
get  other  business." 

"There  isn't  an  article  of  superfluous  furniture  in  the 
house,"  said  my  father  looking  about  him,  "if  by  that  you 
mean  what  our  comfort  could  dispense  with." 

"  I  didn't  mean  in  these  rooms — there  are  some  things 
packed  away, — those  curtains,  for  instance." 

"  It's  hardly  worth  while  to  sell  them." — 
'     "  But  if  we  ever  wanted  to  put  up  such  curtains,"  said 


376  DOLLARS  AXD   CENTS. 

Mrs.  Howard,  "  we  should  be  rich  enough  to  buy  them.  I 
would  much  I'ather  have  their  value  in  money,  at  present." 

"  And  so  would  I,"  said  Kate. 

*•  Well,  I  have  no  objection, — I  daresay  they  could  be 
sold.  We'll  see — I  feel  as  if  everything  could  be  managed 
now  that  I  am  home  once  more,  and  find  you  all  well." 

We  hoped  that  too,  and  yet  we  would  fliin  have  seen  it. 
When  Mr.  Howard  was  talking  in  his  usual  sanguine  way 
of  plans  and  prospects,  we  often  M-ent  along  with  him  ;  but 
left  to  our  own  thoughts  the  foundation  of  both  seemed 
misty.  We  could  but  fall  back  upon  the  assurance  that 
it  would  all  be  arranged — wisely  ^and  for  our  good  ; — and 
then  try  to  nerve  ourselves  against  the  seeming  evil  that 
might  come  with  it.  This  effort  sometimes  concealed  from 
us  our  own  feelings  in  a  measure ;  and  we  thought  we  had 
passed  bravely  over  some  little  trial,  till  a  sudden  point  of 
contrast  told  the  full  effect  it  had  wrought.  The  coming 
on  of  winter  with  a  larder  and  store-room  as  unfurnished 
as  ours,  and  a  purse  to  which  supplies  came  so  slowly  in, 
was  no  trifle — Mr.  Howard's  dinnerless  journey  had  given 
us  a  hint  on  the  subject, — yet  we  thought  we  took  it 
lightly. 

A  day  or.  two  after,  ]\Irs.  Willet  came  to  see  us  and  to 
congratulate  us  upon  being  at  home  and  out  of  that  farm- 
house ;  which  though  it  did  very  well  was  yet  not  just  the 
thing  for  us. 

"  Suppose  you  all  come  and  dine  with  me  to-morrow?" 
she  said.  "  No — not  to-morrow  either — I  am  engaged — we 
have  a  little  dance,  and  you  don't  like  that — and  I  suppose 
Gary  and  Amelia  couldn't  give  it  up,  but  some  day  soon. 
Can't  you  1  W^ould  you  rather  come  to  dinner  or  to 
tea?" 

"  We  are  very  busy  people  you  know,"  said  my  step- 
mother quietly. 

"  Well  it  would  be  a  charity  if  you  would  come,"  said 
Mrs.  Willet,  "and  help  us  eat  up  some  of  our  provisions. 
Such  a  house  full !  I  told  Mr.  Willet  it  really  seemed 
wicked — we  were  living  too  luxuriously.  First  there  came 
a  man  to  the  house  with  turkeys  and  I  told  him  to  leave 
three — they  looked  like  nice  ones, — and  then  Mr.  Willet 
not  knowing  that  I  had  bought  these,  sent  home  two  more, 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  377 

— one  of  them  the  largest  I  ever  saw  in  my  life — and  three 
geese  and  a  saddle  of  venison.  And  he  says  he  has  a  stage- 
load  of  stores  on  the  way  now.  It's  absurd — we  shall  be 
here  so  little  while, — but  he  always  gets  things  just  so. 
Suppose  you  let  me  send  you  a  turkey  ?  will  youl'' 

'•  No,"  said  my  stepmother  smiling. 

•'  You  are  such  queer  people  !  Well  you  see,"  said  Mrs. 
Willet  as  she  took  leave,  "you'll  find  enough  to  eat  when 
you  do  come.  I  don't  know  what's  to  become  of  it  all, 
for  my  part." 

Kate  and  I  followed  her  to  the  door,  but  when  we  came 
back  Mrs.  Howard  sat  with  her  hands  over  her  face,  shed- 
dinof  some  more  sorrowful  tears  than  she  often  indulged  in. 

"Dear  mamma  what  is  the  matter  ?" 

"  Nothing  dear  children  except  that  I  am  very  foolish — I 
believe  I  was  not  quite  in  the  mood  to  bear  heartless  talk 
to-day — and  it  touched  upon  the  wrong  subject." 

"  We  shall  be  taken  care  of,"  Kate  said  though  her  own 
eyes  were  overflowing. — "  '  They  that  fear  the  Lord  shall 
not  want  any  good  thing.' " 

"They  do  not" — said  Mrs.  Howard  putting  her  arms 
round  us.  "  But  it  came  over  me  bitterly  for  a  moment — 
the  do-nothing  lives  of  some  people,  the  toiling  life  of  an- 
other— and  so  little  to  show  for  it.  I  am  very  wrong,  very 
unthankful — all  the  best  blessings  are  with  your  father, — 
both  he  and  we  can  dispense  with  the  others.  My  dear 
Kate !  I  am  so  very  glad" — 

"Glad  of  what,  mamma?"  I  said. 

She  kissed  my  forehead  once  or  twice  before  answer- 
ing me. 

"  I  have  so  many  things  to  be  glad  of  dear  Gracie,  that 
it  would  be  hard  to  count  them, — therefore  like  a  true 
mortal  I  search  out  the  few  that  are  disagreeable.  I  am 
very  glad  that  your  sister  can  bear  these  reverses  better 
than  she  once  could.  I  wish  you  would  take  them  as 
easily." 

"  O  I  do !"  said  I  smiling.  "  You  know  nramma  I  may 
get  tired  sometimes,  but  I  cannot  feel  sad  if  she  and  the 
rest  of  you  do  not.  I  daresay  I  am  the  brightest-looking 
of  the  present  company,  this  minute — to  judge  by  the  feel- 
ing of  my  face." 


378  DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS. 

I  might  easily  have  been  that  and  yet  had  nothing  to 
boast  of. 

We  began  to  live  now  upon  the  most  strict  do-without 
system.  Once  in  a  while  my  father  had  a  day's  help  from 
Eiisha  Barrington, — the  rest  of  the  time  he  cut  and  brought 
the  wood,  milked  the  cow  and  gave  the  garden  what  atten- 
tion it  needed.  Nevertheless  the  want  of  servants  f^^ll 
much  more  heavily  upon  us  than  upon  him.  The  work  Mr 
Howard  had  to  do,  was  good,  wholesome  exercise  in  the 
open  air — not  more  than  his  health  required  ;  and  the  chirs 
once  done,  the  rest  of  the  day  and  night  was  his  own.  Ms 
meals  too  were  better  cooked  than  when  we  had  Caddie, 
his  bed  sloped  with  a  nicer  grading, — his  linen  might  have 
been  the  envy  of  the  neighbourhood  ;  and  the  weaiiness  of 
hand  that  sometimes  accomplished  the  one  and  the  other, 
was  quite  beyond  a  strong  man's  imagination.  The  endless 
routine  of  meals  and  dishes,  sweeping,  dusting,  bread  and 
bed  making, — the  toil  of  mind  to  contrive  and  arrange  it 
all, — the  want  of  a  pail  of  water  when  the  clothes  were  to 
sprinkle,  of  good  wood  when  they  were  lo  iron,  of  kindling 
when  the  fire  went  out, — the  cold  rooins  and  mornings  when 
and  where  we  came  down  to  get  breakfast — it  took  women 
to  miderstand  or  to  get  through  it.  But  the  spirit-machine, 
whether  mental  or  physical,  works  not  so  briskly  when  it 
works  in  a  circle.  Sometimes  we  grew  very  tired  and 
could  almost  have  stopped  short  in  our  treadmill,  and  ta- 
ken the  consequences, — sometimes  we  half  resolved  to  en- 
lighten Mr.  Howard  upon  the  state  of  things,  and  to  have 
a  servant  at  all  risks.  Never  before  had  we  been  quite 
alone,  for  now  we  had  not  even  a  boy  about  the  place ;  but 
with  these  half-determinations  came  the  difficulty  of  getting 
dollars,  even  in  the  singular;  and  instead  of  stopping  our 
work  we  pushed  on  the  harder,  that  we  might  have  more 
time  for  copying  music  maps  and  law-papers.  When  the 
light  served  fur  none  of  these,  we  took  a  turn  at  mending 
and  making, — this  last  department  was  but  small.  I  used 
sometimes  to  wish  that  a  little  of  the  relief  prayed  for  in 
the  law-papers  could  have  fallen  to  the  lot  of  my  aching- 
wrist  and  weary  eyes ;  but  though  the  money  was  paid  us 
pretty  punctually,  and  that  for  the  lectures  came  in  by  de- 
grees, it  was  kept  most  chaiily  for  any  unforeseen  time  of 


379 

need  that  might  suddenly  come,  or  until  more  steady  and 
profitable  business  could  be  had.  "  The  destruction  of  the 
poor  is  their  poverty" — we  appreciated  that  proverb  to  the 
full.  With  a  clear  knowledge  of  the  profitableness  of 
wholesale  dealings,  we  could  practise  but  small  retail ;  and 
while  for  a  few  seven  or  four-pound  papers  of  sugar  we 
paid  the  price  of  a  barrel,  we  had  not  half  the  comfort  of 
it.  "  It  is  pleasant  to  talvc  from  a  great  heap" — another 
most  true  saying,  which  poor  people  use  in  the  potential. 
Furthermore  it  became  very  difficult  to  get  anything  done, 
— a  light  of  glass  in  the  window,  a  shed  for  the  cow,  a 
moulding-board  for  the  kitchen,  were  left  unattended  to 
because  the  carpenter  thought  it  not  worth  his  while  to 
oblige  us ;  and  other  matters  in  the  same  way. 

For  ourselves,  we  wanted  a  good  many  things,  but  in 
our  department  as  in  my  father's  management  had  to  sup- 
ply the  want  of  means.  Dresses  which  had  been  given 
up  in  the  spring  as  past  wearing,  were  now  pulled  out  and 
overhauled,  and  made  to  do  further  service;  but  the  circle 
round  which  both  ends  must  meet  was  a  very  small  one  !  it 
held  us  rather  uncomfortably  close. 

I  still  wanted  to  keep  locked  doors,  but  as  Mrs.  Howard 
truly  said,  "that  could  not  last  always;  and  if  anybody 
was  to  get  in,  it  might  as  well  be  done  at  once."  Still  we 
knew  of  no  danger  in  that  way. 

"  It's  a  comfort  to  find  that  you  can  laugh  yet ! — putting 
nerves  out  of  the  question,"  said  Mr.  Howard  as  he  came 
from  his  study  into  the  dining-room.  "  What  in  the  world 
has  been  the  matter  1     Is  dinner  ready  ^" 

We  nodded  assent  but  did  not  speak. 

"  Well  pray  let  us  have  it  then.  1  don't  see  much  signs 
of  it  here,"  he  said,  seating  himself  at  the  table. 

"  There  isn't  much  reality  of  it  anywhere,"  said  Kate. 

'^Something  smells  very  good,"  said  my  father,  "but  as 
we  are  not  in  fairyland  I  should  like  to  have  more  senses 
than  one  gratified." 

"  You  must  dine  upon  laughing,  papa,"  said  T, — "Mamma 
meant  to  have  cooked  dinner,  but  she  was  interrupted  and 
couldn't  go  on." 

"  Hush  Grace !"  said  Mrs.  Howard,  "  give  your  father 
what  there  is,  and  uo  more  about  it." 


3S0  DOLLARS  AND  CENTS. 

"  The  misfortune  was,"  said  I,  "  that  our  marketing  did 
not  come  till  it  was  too  late  to  get  *  the  usual  trimmings' ; 
so  there's  only  potatoes  and  this." 

And  I  set  a  little  covered  basket  on  the  table  before 
him. 

"  I'm  afraid  we  shall  find  wicker-work  indigestible,"  said 
Mr.  Howard  swinging  back  the  cover.  "  What's  here  % 
napkins  V 

"  Take  it  out,  Gracie,"  said  Mrs.  Howard,  "  or  we  shall 
have  a  breakage  of  something.  That  basket-lid  just 
missed  the  castors." 

1  removed  the  basket  and  napkins  and  set  on  the  table 
one  dish  covered  with  another.  My  father  took  off  the 
top  one. 

"  Heyday  !  where  in  the  world  did  you  get  ducks  ?" 

"  We  didn't  papa !"  said  Kate — "  there's  only  one !" 
And  the  laugh  that  went  round  might  have  astonished 
anybody. 

"  Hardly  that," — said  Mr.  Howard  sticking  the  fork  into 
the  tiny  specimen  of  the  broad-bills  which  lay  on  its  back 
before  him.  "  But  my  dear  you  had  better  let  me  buy  the 
next — the  smallest  are  not  apt  to  be  the  best.  What  is 
the  mystery  about  this  duck  1"  he  said  looking  at  us  as  we 
exchanged  glances. 

"  That  duck  was  a  present,"  said  my  stepmother. 

"  Indeed ! — I  didn't  know  we  had  such  good  friends  left. 
And  this  is  the  laughing-stock  I  suppose  f 

"  I  have  been  almost  too  angry  to  laugh,"  said  Kate. 

"  No,"  said  I,  "  you  laughed  too  much  to  be  angry. 
Where  do  you  think  it  came  from  papa'?" 

"  From  some  one  who  thought  our  misfortunes  had  taken 
away  our  appetites,  I  should  judge,"  said  my  father.  "Is 
this  some  more  of  Mr.  Carvill's  handiwork?" — 

"Mr.  Carvill!"  said  Kate,  "no  indeed!  his  ducks  were 
beauties." 

"  And  this  is  nbt  a  wild  one,  either.  Well  who  brought 
it  ?" 

"It  was  brought,"  said  Kate,  with  a  little  indignant 
colour  coming  into  her  cheeks,  "by  Mrs.  Willet's  footman 
in  full  livery — and  he  handed  the  basket  in  with  as  much 
daintiness  as  if  it  had  been  sugar-plums.     I  wanted  to  send 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS:  SSI- 

it  right  back,  and  mamma  wouldn't.  Just  think  of  send- 
ing us  one  duck — ready  cooked !" 

"Saved  you  some  trouble,  that  last  item  my  dear,"  said 
Mr.  Howard  coolly  helping  himself  to  another  bone. 
"  Mrs.  Willet,  hey  f ' 

"  But  papa — wouldn't  you  have  sent  it  back  f 
"  Why  no — "  said  my  father, — "  I  shouldn't  have  wished 
to  hire  a  messenger,  and  still  less  to  carry  it  myself" 
"  Did  you  ever  hear  of  anything  so  pitiful  V' 
"  It  is  a  little  on  that  order,"  said  Mr.  Howard,  survey- 
ing the  wreck, — "  I  am  not  much  in  the  habit  of  compas- 
sionating roast  ducks — but  this  one  does  make  very  little 
show  in  the  world.     My  dear   Kate !"   he   said  laughing, 
"doesn't  your  pride  lie  beyond  Mrs.  Willet's  reach'?     I 
assure  you  mine  does." 

"  I  never  want  to  have  anything  more  to  do  with  her." 

"  I  do — as  much  as  I  ever  did." 

"  But  this  is  almost  an  insult  papa." 

"  Not  meant  so,  Katie.     And  if  it  were — 

«  An  honest,  sensible,  and  well-bred  man 
Will  not  affront  me — and  no  other  can.' 

If  IMrs.  Willet  chooses  to  send  us  a  roast  grasshopper,  I 
shall  take  it  thankfully — and  make  as  hearty  a  meal  as  the 
circumstances  will  permit." 


382  -DOLLARS  AXD   CENTS. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 


Yet  reason  eaith,  reason  should  have  ability 

To  hold  these  worldly  things  in  such  proportion, 

As  let  them  come  or  go  with  even  facility. 

Sidney. 


ONE  afternoon  late  in  October,  when  it  was  already 
drawing  towards  dusk,  Mr.  Howard  had  gone  into  the 
woods  to  chop  and  mamma  and  Kate  were  disposing  of  the 
dinner  dishes  and  talking  to  me  as  I  sat  on  a  bench  by 
the  fire.  I  heard  some  one  knock  at  the  back  door,  and 
going  to  open  it  I  found  two  men  who  inquired  for  my 
father. 

Not  particularly  pleased  with  their  appearance  I  promised 
to  call  him,  and  then  closed  the  door;  and  going  round  to 
another  entrance  I  set  off  for  the  woods,  followed  by  Kate. 
The  sound  of  the  axe  guided  us,  and  after  a  little  calling 
and  seeking  we  found  Mr.  How^ard  and  asked  him  to  come 
home.  I  reached  the  house  first,  and  saw  with  no  pleasant 
surprise  that  the  two  men  had  ushered  themselves  in,  and 
were  now  sitting  composedly  in  the  kitchen.  I  asked  Mrs. 
Howard  if  she  had  opened  the  door — no,  they  had  done  it 
for  themselves.  I  flitted  about,  much  strengthened  in  my 
forebodings,  and  was  both  glad  and  sorry  to  see  Mr.  Howard 
come  in, — I  thought  he  had  received  our  message  gravely. 
In  some  moods  the  mind  is  singularly  alive  to  trifles,  and 
the  sight  of  my  father  as  he  entered  the  piazza,  in  his  shirt- 
sleeves and  bearing  the  axe  with  which  he  had  been  working, 
affected  me  very  differently  from  what  it  would  had  he 
been  dressed  with  his  old  fastidious  elegance.  I  looked  at 
the  cloth  coat  and  shining  beaver  of  the  one  intruder,  the 
fur  cap  and  boots  of  the  other, — I  knew  they  had  not  come 
for  good ! 

For  a  while  I  heard  nothing  distinctly  but  earnest  talk- 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  383 

ing, — my  impatience  would  not  bear  delay,  and  I  found  an 
errand  to  the  kitchen  closet.  At  the  door  I  distinguished 
these  words  spol^en  by  the  best  dressed  and  most  disagree- 
able of  the  two  men. 

"  1  won't  say  but  I  have  the  right  to  take  'em  all  to- 
night." 

"I  suppose  you  will  leave  us  beds  to  sleep  on?"  remarked 
Mr.  Howard  with  a  momentary  stir  of  indignation. 

"  [  don't  say  that  I  won't — but  I  don't  say  that  I  will, — I 
won't  say  that  I  haven't  a  right  to  take  everything  away 
to-night." 

One  thought  as  to  the  possibility  of  resting  my  weariness 
upon  the  floor,  and  I  entered  the  kitchen.  Mr.  Howard 
stood  leaning  against  the  dresser,  looking  gravely  and  sadly 
down  at  the  rag-carpet,  while  close  to  each  other  sat  the 
two  men,  the  one  quiet,  the  other  displaying  his  sense  of 
power.  I  felt  my  face  burning  with  some  strange  fever, 
and  catching  up  something  out  of  the  closet  I  returned  to 
the  tea-room. 

"What  is  it?"  said  Mrs.  Howard. 

"  I  don't  know  mamma." 

"Do  not  go  in  there  Gracie,"  said  Kate,  "it  will  only 
trouble  you.     Papa  will  tell  us  all  about  it." 

"0  1  had  rather  go — not  into  the  kitchen,  I'm  just  going 
to  the  door." 

"  I  don't  know  what  to  say  to  this,"  I  heard  my  father 
say  sadly, — "  it  comes  upon  me  quite  by  surprise.  I  had 
supposed  everything  was  arranged." 

"  Ay  but  you  see  there  was  this  mistake.  No  notice  was 
given  and  so  of  course  Mr.  McLoon  takes  his  rights." 

"  His  rights !"  said  my  father  indignantly.  "  Well — it 
don't  signify — he  has  the  power  at  any  rate,  which  answers 
as  well, — I  suppose  the  law  will  protect  him  as  it  has  done 
many  another  oppressor.  I  have  nothing  to  say  to  this 
business, — you  probably  know  what  you  are  about,  and 
must  proceed  as  you  think  proper.  We  have  a  Sovereign 
protector  in  the  midst  of  all  man  can  do!" 

"  It's  so  late  to-night,"  said  the  man  after  a  whisper 
from  his  companion,  "that  I  don't  think  it  will  be  worth 
while  to  move  anything  till  morning.  You  may  be  sure 
we  know  what  we  are  about  sir — certainly !     There  is  no 


884  DOLLARS  AXL>   CENTS. 

mistake  on  our  part  though  unfortunately  there  was  on 
yours.  We'll  just  look  round  to  see  that  everything  is  in 
its  place," 

My  flither  led  the  way  in  silence,  giving  me  once  a  very 
sad  reflection  of  my  smile  as  he  caught  my  eye,  and  the 
men  looked  slightly  at  the  rooms,  referring  occasionally  to 
their  list. 

"That's  all  to-night,  I  be-lieve,"  said  Mr.  Pratt,  "except 
we  must  take  something  to  make  our  levy  good.  Let  me 
see — the — have  you  not  a  small  picture  by  Holbein  V 

"  Yes,"  said  my  father. 

"  Will  you  please  to  point  it  out  V 

"  This  is  it,"  said  Mr.  Howard  laying  his  hand  upon  the 
frame. 

"  You  will  take  it,"  said  Mr.  Pratt  nodding  to  the 
sheriff. 

Until  then  I  had  given  no  outward  recognition  of  their 
business  except  a  flushed  cheek  ;  but  when  I  saw  our  favour- 
ite Holbein  taken  down  and  in  the  sherifl"'s  hands,  and  that 
pretty,  stately,  court  beauty  fliirly  moving  to  the  door, 
the  tears  started  into  my  eyes  and  I  was  glad  to  move  off 
too. 

"  Good  evening  sir,"  said  Mr.  Pratt, — "  to-morrow  we 
will  come  and  look  over  things  more  carefully." 

The  door  closed  behind  them,  and  another  one  admitted 
Mrs.  Howard  and  Kate. 

"What  is  all  this  about?" 

"  O  it's  McLoon  again,"  said  my  ftither  throwing  himself 
down  upon  the  sofix. 

"  McLoon,"  said  Mrs.  Howard, — "  I  thought  he  was  dis- 
posed of  long  ago." 

"  So  did  I — and  he  was,  or  would  have  been  if  people 
were  faithful  to  their  business.  It's  all  owing  to  Phibbs's 
carelessness. — The  matter  was  arranged  before  I  went  away 
in  the  spring, — but  when  I  was  not  here  to  write  to  him 
and  keep  him  to  his  duty,  he  neglected  it — didn't  serve  a 
notice  or  something,  I  don't  know  what, — and  then  these 
fellows  seize  their  advantage  and  rush  down  upon  me  for 
what  they  know  they  have  no  right  to." 

"  And  can  nothing  be  donef 

*'  No,  I  fear  not,"  said  my  father  sighing ;  they  are  not 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  385 

ohViged  to  overlook  neglect  in  my  lawyer,  and  they  are  too 
sharp  and  hard  business  men  to  do  anything  for  charity.'* 

"  They,  papa  V  said  Kate. 

"They. — I  don't  know  whether  McWherter  has  any 
interest  in  the  aflair  beyond  the  desire  of  helping  his  brother- 
in-law,  but  they  work  together." 

"  But  surely,"  said  Mrs.  Howard,  "  they  must  leave  us 
things  enough  to  use  f 

"I  don't  know,  indeed — if  they  must  they  will,  but  not 
else.  It  is  a  little  hard  to  see  all  these  things  that  I  have 
collected  and  been  so  fond  of,  scattered  to  the  winds,  (I'd 
as  lief  they  were,  as  sold  to  pay  that  debt) — rbut  I  could 
bear  it  well  enough  if  I  were  alone  in  the  world.  I  didn't 
know  that  I  should  ever  live  to  see  my  dear  ones  turned 
out  of  house  and  home  !"  , 

"  '  The  Lord  reigneth,'  yet,"  said  my  stepmother  softly, 
though  her  voice  trembled  a  little. 

We  sat  looking  into  the  bright  fire  that  had  seen  so  many 
things  written  on  our  faces ;  the  silence  unbroken  except 
by  a  half-checked  sigh,  or  by  the  wind  which  came  fitfully 
tossing  and  drifting  away  the  leaves  which  had  once  flut- 
tered in  June  freshness.  Even  so  ! — we  thought  the  trees 
w^ere  pretty  bare  before,  but  this  night  had  pointed  out 
the  small  remnant  that  to-morrow  would  shake  off.  My 
father  spoke  first,  and  it  was  to  repeat  my  stepmother's 
words, 

"  '  The  Lord  reigneth  !  let  the  earth  rejoice  !' — But  oh, 
human  nature  is  a  hard  thing  to  struggle  with !  There  may 
be,  there  is,  a  wise  purpose  in  all  this ;  and  yet  sense  seizes 
upon  the  present,  and  faith  looks  forward  very  faintly." 

"But  the  house  is  left  us  yet,  papa,"  said  Kate — "and 
home  lies  not  in  tables  and  chairs.  Dear  papa!  you  ought 
to  be  very  glad  you  are  not  alone, — it  will  be  strange  if 
we  can  do  nothing  but  increase  your  trials.  And  you  must 
not  look  so  sad — see  here  is  Grace  with  a  face  as  anxious  as 
if  the  whole  world  rested  on  her  little  shoulders."  And 
she  put  her  arm  round  me  as  if  to  ward  off  at  least  part  of 
the  Inirden. 

"We  shall  not  mind  anything  if  you  do  not,  papa,"  I 
sjiid. 

He  looked  at  us  with  more  loving  sorrow  in  his  face 


386  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

than  his  words  had  told  of;  and  Mrs.  Howard's  eyes  took 
sadiy  the  same  direction.  And  what  was  I  thinking  of? — 
even  of  the  blessed  change  that  time  and  civilization  had 
wrought, — a  man's  wife  and  children  could  no  longer  be 
sold  to  pay  his  debt ! 

Then  Kate  and  I  went  to  get  another  of  those  careful 
teas — not  this  time  of  welcome  but  of  comfort.  Affection 
that  cannot  reach  great  things  spends  itself  upon  the  small, 
and  if  as  some  think,  everything  has  a  character,  then  was 
the  tea-table  that  night  not  unmeaning.  Never  was  table 
set  with  more  exactness,  never  was  more  attention  paid  to 
its  contents, — we  tried  to  get  together  whatever  the  house 
had  that  was  nice  and  appetizing.  Little  that  would  have 
been  but  for  a  woman's  power  of  conjuration,  and  it  was 
labour  lost  after  all, — the  will  to  eat  was  beyond  our  reach. 
I  should  not  say  it  was  labour  lost  so  far  as  we  were  con- 
cerned— we  were  more  than  paid  by  Mr.  Howard's  look 
when  we  pressed  him  to  take  one  thing  and  another, — but 
it  was  not  an  enlivening  intercourse  on  either  side. 

"  Papa,"  said  Kate  when  we  had  been  musingly  gazing 
at  our  empty  tea  cups,  "  hadn't  Grace  and  I  better  take  out 
everything  of  our  own  to-night  V 

"  Everything  of  your  own  V 

"  1  mean  all  our  books  and  shells — you  know  some  of 
them  belong  to  us.  Mr.  McLoon  cannot  touch  those, 
can  he  1" 

"  Of  course  not. — therefore  it  don't  much  matter  about 
moving  them  to-night." 

"But  won't  it  save  trouble  and  mistakes?" 

"  Perhaps  so." — 

The  table  cleared  away,  we  began  our  work ;  taking  the 
precaution  to  close  the  shutters,  and  where  there  were  none 
to  hang  a  quilt  before  the  window.  For  aught  we  knew 
Mr.  McLoon  might  have  watchers  round  the  house,  and  if 
they  saw  us  touch  anything,  there  was  no  telling  what 
desperate  measures  they  might  attempt, — we  had  all  the 
old  disagreeable  feeling  of  the  unseei>  enemy.  But  now 
the  enemy  had  really  got  in, — we  felt  almost  bewildered. 
How  strange  it  all  looked !  the  closed  windows,  the  piles 
of  selected  books,  the  empty  spaces  they  had  left; — and 
our  own  figures  in  that  du$ky  candle-light — were  \ye  purr 


DOLLARS  A  XL)   CEXTS.  887 

selves  or  were  we  somebody  else  1     My  father  came  in  and 
stood  looking  at  us. 

"  You  are  giving  yourselves  needless  trouble  my  dear 
children — your  little  possessions  cannot  possibly  be  taken/' 

"Might  not  there  be  some  mistake  1"  we  repeated. 

"  I  will  see  that  there  is  none." 

"  Then  you  think  it  would  be  better  to  leave  them  just 
where  they  are,  papa  f 

"I  am  inclined  to  think  so.  These  people  probably 
judge  me  by  themselves — it  may  save  trouble  to  take  your 
books  out  before  their  eyes.-" 

"  But  they  haven't  a  right  to  one  of  the  others !"  said 
Kate,  looking  down  from  the  book-steps. 

"  Xo  dear,  not  in  conscience — no  just  man  would  do  as 
they  are  doing  ;  but  the  laws  cannot  fit  in  to  every  variety 
of  circumstance,  and  in -this  case  they  protect  most  flagrant 
injustice.     I  must  submit  to  them,  nevertheless." 

"  Well" — said  Kate, — "  hand  me  up  those  books  again 
Gracie.  It's  a  pity  the  laws  should  ever  be  made  to  do 
what  they  don't  mean  to !" 

AVe  went  back  into  the  sitting-room,  and  gathering 
round  the  fire  talked  long  and  earnestly  of  what  we  might 
do, — how  we  could  replace  certain  wants, — how  it  would 
not  cost  much  to  get  a  half  dozen  plain  chairs,  and  how  a 
cloth  would  hide  any  sort  of  a  table.  We  could  not  par- 
ticularize much,  for  as  yet  all  was  indistinct :  we  knew  not 
what  things  ^Ir.  ^IcLoon  claimed ;  and  had  only  a  general 
idea  that  all  was  to  go,  and  that  we  and  the  house  were  to 
begin  life  again  together. 

"  I  can't  understand  anything  about  it !"  said  Mrs.  How- 
ard. "  These  men  made  no  levy — where  did  they  get  their 
list?" 

"I'll  tell  you,"  said  my  father.  "You  know  in  that 
Self  and  Mulhawl  business,  when  I  got  sureties  I  gave 
them  security  in  a  mortgage  on  the  property  in  question ; 
and  that  mortgage  was  filed  at  the  Clerk's  oflice.  There's 
where  McLoon  got  his  list, — he  must  have  asked  to  see  the 
mortgage  and  then  have  copied  from  it." 

"And  does  he  claim  nothing  else  1" 

"  Nothing  but  what  is  on  his  list,  if  I  understand  right." 

"  That  is  some  comfort  then,"  said  Mrs.  Howard,  "  for 


383  DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS. 

the  mortgage  did  not  mention  everything  in  the  house. 
At  least  the  appraiser's  list  did  not." 

"Everything  of  much  value," — and  my  father  glanced 
towards  the  open  door  in  the  direction  of  his  favourite 
shells  and  minerals.  "  Well,  let  them  go, — I  lived  without 
them  once,  and  I  can  again." 

"  But  I  am  sure  everything  was  not  put  down — there  was 
one  set  of  chairs  up  in  the  garret." — 
"  What  is  one  set  of  chairs  !" — 

"  They  show  for  something  when  they  stand  alone,"  said 
my  stepmother  with  a  smile  that  was  ordered  to  report  a 
bright  side  to  the  question.  "  Wait  till  we  have  had  a 
few  days  to  arrange  things,  and  you'll  see  how  nice  the 
house  w^ill  look.  There  was  a  lamp  too,  I  think,  and  there 
is  some  old  furniture  in  the  lumber-room.  It  will  be  a  real 
pleasure  to  exert  all  our  powers  of  contrivance  and  in- 
genuity,— they  surely  will  not  fail  us  now — for  the  first 
time." 

"  And  where  will  contrivance  and  ingenuity  find  material 
to  work  upon  ?" 

"O  never  mind  asking  questions  papa,"  said  Kate. 
"  Anxiety  is  the  best  purveyor  that  can  be,  and  if  the 
material  comes,  it  don't  matter  where  from." 

"  There  are  some  things  that  will  never  fail  me,  I  am 
sure,"  said  Mr.  Howard.  "  Gracie  dear,  will  you  bring  me 
my  inkstand  ?     I  have  a  letter  to  write." 

He  went  to  his  calculations  with  pen  and  paper,  but  we 
continued  ours  verbally,  and  soon  talked  ourselves  out  of 
the  sorrowful  state  into  one  of  headache  and  excitement ; 
while  now  and  then  a  most  unmirthful  laugh  told  of  the 
overwrought  feeling  that  was  too  fevered  for  tears.  One 
thing  alone  brought  them  that  night, — it  was  my  father's 
prayer  for  the  people  whom  God  had  permitted  to  injure 
us. 

We  went  to  bed  feeling  very  quiet  and  strange,  and 
wondering  if  we  should  sleep  on  the  floor  to-morrow  night ! 
could  such  a  thing  ever  be?  But  the  body  had  been 
touched  with  the  mind's  excitement,  and  rest  was  much 
sooner  wanted  than  won. 


DOLLARS  AND    CENTS.         -  389 


CHAPTER    XL. 


All  unconcern'd  with  our  unrest,  begins 
Ker  rosy  progress  smiling. 

Milton. 


HEAVEN  and  earth  were  one  bright  glow  of  beauty  and 
promise.  The  many-coloured  tufts  that  yet  decked 
the  woodland,  the  lake  in  its  luxuriance  of  quiet,  the  fair 
sky,  and  the  scattered  clouds  that  caught  and  telegraphed 
the  tidings  of  sunrise, — how  little  akin  they  were  to  our 
feelings !  But  we  had  got  up  very  early — when  earth  was 
as  shadowy  as  our  own  hearts, — and  having  lighted  candles 
and  fires,  we  had  busied  ourselves  in  preparing  breakflxst 
while  yet  we  had  a  quiet  room  in  which  to  eat  it.  That 
was  a  sad  awaking;  but  as  the  day  advanced,  and  the 
sun  poured  his  full  light  in  at  the  windows,  everything 
shone  with  the  very  spirit  of  home, — we  almost  thought 
we  had  been  dreaming.  Could  it  all  bel  and  it  was  only 
that  nameless  weight  about  the  heart  that  answered  yes. 
But  the  peaceful  look  of  the  unconscious  furniture  half 
gainsaid  it. 

We  sat  quietly  expecting  Mr.  Pratt.  He  did  not  appear 
until  summoned  by  the  clock-fairy  with  those  ten  taps  of 
her  wand  which  had  more  than  once  called  in  discomfort. 
Poor  little  fairy  !  she  was  not  to  announce  anything  to  us 
much  longer. 

Sleep  had  been  a  composing  draught  to  Mr.  Pratt, — the 
rough  edges  were  a  little  planed  off  since  last  night,  and  his 
mind  in  a  more  comfortable  state ; — it  might  be  because, 
unlike  the  magician,  he  found  the  palace  in  its  usual  place 
— not  spirited  away  by  its  rightful  owners.  So  he  seated 
himself,  and   made   aftlible  remarks  about  the  weather  j 


390  DOLLARS  AND   GENTS. 

while  the  sheriff  who  was  a  grave  and  on  the  whole  not 
disagreeable-looking  man,  kept  perfect  silence. 

"  Well  sir  !"'  said  Mr.  Pratt  at  length,  and  as  if  he  rather 
thought  my  father  should  have  introduced  the  subject, — 
"if  you  please  we  will  proceed  with  this  business.  It's 
disagreeable  of  course,  but  it  must  be  got  through  with. 
Now  I'll  read  over  this  list,  and  you'll  just  point  out  the 
articles  as  they  occur.  It's  only  to  see  that  they  are  here, 
you  know, — I've  no  doubt  we  shall  find  everything  in  its 
place — no  doubt  at  all !  This  is  what  is  called  the  sitting- 
room,  ain't  it  1 — '  sitting-room,  first  floor.'  We  may  as 
well  begin  here  and  go  regularly  on." 

"Are  you  at  liberty  to  strip  the  house?"  said  Mr.  How- 
ard,— "  does  the  law  allow  people  nothing  1" 

"I  claim  nothing  but  what  is  on  my  list,  sir,"  said  Mr. 
Pratt — "  the  law  allows  necessaries  I  believe,  but  not  those 
articles  which  are  merely  delightful, — if  there  is  anything 
on  my  list  which  is  absolutely  requisite  for  the  family  use, 
I  suppose  we'll  have  to  leave  it.  Now  Mr.  Flagg,  just 
take  notice  of  the  articles  as  I  name  them  oflT." 

"  That  stand  was  bought  since  the  list  was-  made,"  said 
my  flither. 

"  And  that  hearth-rug,"  said  I. 

"  I  claim  nothing  but  what  is  on  my  list,"  said  Mr.  Pratt 
turning  from  one  to  the  other — "nothing  at  all, — every- 
thing else  is  left  of  course.  '  One  large  vase' — that  is  it 
Mr.  Flagg — '  one  work-stand,'  '  one  lady's  cabinet-desk.'  " 

"Those  belong  to  mamma  and  me,"  said  Kate. 

"  ]Makes  no  difference  Miss  Howard — I  suppose  Mr. 
Howard  bought  them." 

"  Are  gifts  not  excepted  ?" 

"  Why — in  some  cases — small  things  that  can  be  easily 
moved, — but  articles  of  furniture — I  should  think  riot." 

"  But  these  are  articles  of  daily  use  and  comfort  I  am 
sure,"  said  my  father. 

"  I  suppose  that  might  be  said  of  everything  else — "  said 
Mr.  Pratt  rather  snappishly.  "I  can't  leave  everything, 
sir — and  of  course  I  must  take  some  things  that  you  would 
like  to  keep." 

"  Proceed — "  said  Mr.  Howard. 

"You  see,  sir,"   said  Mr.  Pratt  deprecating! y,  a  little 


DOLLARS  AXD  CENTS.  391 

taken  aback  by  my  father's  manner,  "  I  am  only  running 
over  my  list  now,  just  to  find  out  that  all  is  as  it  should  be 
— we'll  consider  afterwards  Mhat  is  to  be  left.  It  is  a  very 
unpleasant  duty  for  me,  of  course." 

And  finishing  that  room  they  went  into  the  next. 

"  You  had  better  let  me  go  round  too,  papa,"  Kate  whis- 
pered ;  "  I  don't  believe  you  know  which  the  things  are." 

So  she  and  I  followed  with  Mr.  Howard  the  motions  of 
the  list-holder. 

"  '  Drawing-room  first  floor'  " — read  off  Mr.  Pratt. — 
"This  is  it  I  suppose.  '20  black-walnut  and  satin-wood 
chairs' — are  these  the  walnut  1" — making  the  circuit  of  the 
room  with  his  pencil. 

"  We  were  cleaning  house  when  that  list  was  made,"  ex- 
plained Kate,  "  and  the  chairs  stood  all  together  in  here. 
The  satin-wood  chairs  are  in  the  next  room." 

"  Ah — yes — then  I  may  say  all  right.  Now,  '  one  ebony 
cabinet  shells'— is  that  the  article  1" 

"  Yes,"  said  my  father  with  a  half  sigh. 

"Very  fine — upon  my  word" — said  Mr.  Pratt  walking 
up  to  the  case.  "  You  must  have  had  great  pleasure  in 
collecting  these  Mr.  Howard.  Fine  drawer  of  harps — re- 
markably fine  specimen  of  Wentletrap !  I  ought  to  know 
too,  for  I  saw  a  great  many  when  I  was  abroad — and  have 
a  number  myself,  in  fact." 

"  Do  you  remember  ever  to  have  seen  a  specimen  of 
Scalaria  pretiosaf  said  my  father,  whose  patience  was 
giving  way. 

"No  siV" — said  Mr.  Pratt — "that  is  a  shell  I  do  not 
recollect  to  have  met  with, — it's  a  little  strange  too — I  ex- 
amined so  many  of  the  foreign  collections.  '  One  print  of 
"  the  watering-place" — framed.'  Ah  !  very  fine !  I  saw  a 
great  many  of  the  masterpieces  of  Wouverwie?^  when  I  was 
abroad,  but  none  that  I  liked  so  well  as  that.  Everything 
seems  in  its  place — turns  up  at  the  word — "  said  Mr.  Pratt 
with  a  pleasant  smile.  "  '  One  Hebe' — there  she  stands. — 
You  must  be  very  careful  in  moving  that,  ^Mr.  Flagg." 

The  sheriff  nodded,  and  touched  Hebe's  fingers  to  see 
what  they  were  made  of. 

"  Now  '  the  study'. — I  can't  go  over  all  these  books — I 
suppose  they  are  just  as  they  were?" 


302  DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS. 

"They  are  the  same  books,"  said  Mr.  Howard, — '-whe- 
ther they  are  arranged  just  as  they  ^Yere  two  years  ago  I  can't 
say.  Some  of  them  belong  to  my  children,  and  of  course 
must  be  taken  out." 

"  Of  course  sir.  Those  you  see  are  clearly  gifts  of  pos- 
session, while  that  desk  for  example  was  but  a  gift  for  use. 
But  any  presents — or  articles  of  virtu — anything  of  that 
sort  of  course  is  sacred,"  said  Mr.  Pratt  with  a  wave  of  his 
hand.  "  You  understand  Miss  Howard,"  he  added  turning 
to  Kate,  '■  whatever  belongs  to  yourself  or  your  sister  1 
leave,  of  course." 

'•You  have  no  right  to  do  anything  else,"  was  on  my 
tongue,  for  his  manner  was  provokingly  benevolent  and 
considerate.  But  I  kept  silence,  thinking  it  best  to  let  him 
be  good-natured  if  he  had  a  mind  ;  and  nothing  makes  people 
forbearing  like  the  belief  that  they  are  so. 

"  I  have  no  doubt  this  will  all  be  settled  in  a  short  time," 
said  Mr.  Pratt — ''  no  doubt  at  all.  It  will  be  a  very  easy 
matter  to  arrange,  and  you  will  have  the  property  all  back 
in  a  few  weeks." 

"I  am  very  sure  I  shall  not,"  said  Mr.  Howard  reso- 
lutely,— "I  am  obliged  to  submit  to  this  piece  of  injus- 
tice, but  I  never  shall  try  to  pay  off  an  unrighteous 
debt." 

"  '  Contents  of  kitchen  pantry' — "  proceeded  Mr.  Pratt. 

Such  had  been  the  careless  designation  given  in  the  list 
to  a  closet  which  contained  very  little  pertaining  to  the 
kitchen,  but  many  things  of  much  value  to  us,  and  which 
we  could  hardly  have  replaced.  Here  was  stowed  away 
the  china  which  had  been  so  carefully  washed  in  the  spring ; 
— lamps,  glass,  the  old  wine  which  was  kept  against  sick- 
ness, and  a  thousand  and  one  useful  etceteras.  It  was  with 
some  trepidation  that  I  now  opened  the  door, — but  "  men 
are  but  men !" 

Mr.  Pratt  looked  in — his  eve  brlnirinor  back  about'  as 
discriminating  a  report  as  might  have  been  expected.  I 
don't  believe  he  saw  a  thing  besides  a  lantern,  a  brown 
paper-bag,  and  two  pans. 

"  Leave  that,  certainly,"  he  said  dashing  his  pencil 
through  "  one  kitchen  pantry."  "  Now  comes  '  front  bed- 
room on  the  west'." 


DOLLARS  AND   CENTS.  393 

"VVe  went  upstcairs ;  and  sending  the  sheriff  into  the 
rooms,  Mr.  Pratt  crouched  in  uncomfortable  positions  in  the 
hall  and  called  over  the  roll,  while  Mr.  Flagg  responded 
for  tables,  chairs  and  bedsteads.  "Here" — "yes" — "all 
right" — "go  ahead" — were  sent  forth  in  quick  succession, 
while  I  should  have  liked  to  call  out,  "all  wrong!"  and 
"stop!"  Anybody  might  have  cried  shame !  that  heard 
every  bed  and  bureau  in  the  house  read  off,  with  such  little 
varieties  as, 

"  1  bedroom  easy-chair" — 
"  1  inlaid  dressing-case" — 

"Yours  Mr.  Howard?"  said  Mr.  Pratt  looking  up. 

"  Yes." 

The  receiver  paused,  twirled  his  pencil,  and  then  with  a 
little  shake  of  his  head  went  on  to  the  next  article. 

But  he  was  somewhat  mollified — or  ashamed,  and  now 
and  then  checked  off  a  thing  to  be  left  of  his  own  accord, 
after  he  had  (in  compliance  with  the  statute)  ordered  the 
sheriff  to  leave  the  femily  beds  and  bedding, 

"  You  may  leave  that  bed  too,  Mr.  Flagg — you  might 
like  to  have  a  friend  with  you  sir.  And  that  stand — ah 
well,  I  guess  that  may  stay — you'll  find  it  convenient." 

The  bureaus  went  rather  hard — they  were  so  large  and 
handsome,  and  so  invariably  full. 

"  Is  that  one  in  daily  use  ]"  he  said  at  length,  pointing  to 
an  old-fashioned  wardrobe. 

"  Yes,"  1  replied,  "  my  sister's  clothes  are  in  it." 

"  Well — I  don't  see  but  we'll  have  to  leave  all  the  bureaus. 
You  understand  Mr.  Flagg — whatever  I  have  checked  off, 
you  will  leave." 

When  the  rooms  had  been  all  gone  over  we  went  down 
stairs  again  to  consider  of  unlocated  things. 

"Now  Miss  Howard,"  said  Mr.  Pratt — "the  silver  if 
you  please — that  stands  next." 

Kate  and  I  brought  it. 

"  Ah — very  bright !  '  One  tea  set' — this  is  it,  is  it  ? — 
'2  doz.  large  spoons — 4  doz.  small  ditto — 2  doz.  dessert' — 
no,  '22  dessert' — (just  run  them  over,  Mr.  Flagg) — " 

"  All  right,"  said  the  sheriff. 

"  Upon  my  word  Mr.  Howard,  you  have  been  remark- 
ably fortunate  with  your  plate — seems  to  turn  up  all  right 


394  DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS. 

— I  wish  mine  could  be  kept  so,"  said  Mr.  Pratt  politely, 
"  but  it's  always  getting  lost." 

"  I  wonder  if  you  have  any  !"  thought  I. 

*'  I  wish  you  better  success  in  keeping  yours  than  I  have 
met  with,  sir,"  said  my  flit  her. 

Mr.  Pratt  returned  to  his  list. 

"  8  salt  spoons — 2  fish  knives — 2  ice-cream  do. — 2  soup 
ladles— 6  vegetable  dishes  and  covers — 1  doz.  egg-cups" — 

Pie  looked  up  in  some  surprise,  and  the  sheriff  handled 
and  weighed  them  admiringly.  I  looked  too,  and  thought 
of  the  breakfasts  where  I  had  seen  those  cups — the  hands 
I  had  seen  use  them ! — I  did  not  hear  the  next  page  of  the 
list. 

"-All  right  sir,"  said  Mr.  Pratt — "it  really  gives  me 
great  satisHiction  to  find  things  so  straight.  Now — '  green- 
house plants'." — 

"  Part  of  them  are  dead,  and  the  rest  are  in  the  ground-," 
said  Kate — "There  may  be  half  a  dozen." 

"They  are  of  my  daughters'  own  collecting,"  said  Mr. 
Howard. 

Mr.  Pratt  checked  them  off. 

"  Left,  of  course.  '  Ice  in  ice-house' — used  up.  by  this 
time  I  guess,"  said  he  with  an  agreeable  laugh.  "  '  Farming 
utensils — wagons,  &c.'  " — 

"  You  will  find  those  at  the  barn,"  said  my  father. 

"  '  Two  cows — 4  3-year  olds — 1  yearling' — I  suppose 
they'll  be  all  forthcoming  V 

"  No — the  yearling  is  dead,  and  one  of  the  cows." 

"  Ah — not  actionable — of  course.  That  is  all. — I  am  ex- 
tremely glad  things  have  turned  out  so  pleasantly, — some- 
how I  was  under  a  different  impression." 

"  I  daresay  !"  said  my  father  somewhat  indignantly,  "  Mr. 
McLoon  could  hardly  have  hoped  to  succeed  so  well  in  his 
injustice !" 

And  launching  forth  upon  the  broad  sea  between  the 
shores  of  right  and  wrong,  my  father  clearly  shewed  that 
Mr.  McLoon's  sailing  chart' was  rather  peculiar  and  danger- 
ous. Mr.  Pratt  sat  with  his  hands  on  his  knees,  his  eyes 
on  the  floor,  nodding  his  head  patiently,  and  now  and  then 
putting  in  a  word. 

"Ah! — of  course! — very  disagreeable  indeed— wish  I 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  395 

hadn't  been  chosen  for  the  office — can't  imagine  why  I  was, 
except  that  I  always  was  a  crony  of  Bob's — suppose  that 


must  have  been  the  reason. — Well  sir — my  time  is  precious, 
— I  should  like  to  look  over  the  list  again,  and  see  if  there 
is  any  article  you  would  like  to  have  left  till  the  affair  is 
settled, — for  I'm  confident  it  will  be  settled — and  of  course 
you  would  pledge  yourself  that  they  should  be  forthcoming 
if  called  for.  Let  me  see — this  work-stand  you  say  belongs 
to  Mrs.  Howard  f 

"  Yes,"'  said  Kate. 

"  Well" — he  said  checking  it  off — "  I  guess  it'll  have  to 
stay  for  the  present." 

"  May  as  well  leave  this  carpet  too,"  said  the  sheriff. 

"  O  yes — till  the  aflair  is  settled.  The  desk  is  too  valu- 
able to  be  left.  Now  about  this  silver — I  suppose  you'd 
like  to  keep  some  of  it  for  the  present  ?" 

"  It's  not  very  pleasant  to  eat  with  iron  spoons,"  said  I 
quietly.     Kate  had  left  the  room. 

'•  No — of  course, — just  lay  out  what  you  want,  Miss 
Howard." 

I  went  to  the  table,  and  stood  there  to  make  the  di- 
vision, feeling  that  the  flush  on  my  cheek  was  deepening 
and  that  I  was  getting  excited.  The  sheriff  looked  at  me 
curiously  from  time  to  time,  as  if  to  see  or  to  wonder  how 
I  could  bear  it  all. 

I  laid  aside  four  large  and  four  small  spoons. 

"  No,  I  will  take  only  two  of  the  large,"  I  said,  "  the 
small  ones  will  be  the  most  useful." 

"You  needn't  put  the  others  back,"  said  Mr.  Pratt — 
"  how  many  small  spoons  do  you  want  1" 

"  When  we  have  fruit  we  need  extra  ones — I  should  like 
nine." 

"  Well  take  them  then, — a  sugar-tongs  I  suppose  you 
can  do  without.  Have  you  any  forks  in  the  house  but 
these?" 

"I  believe  there  are  some  steel  ones  put  away  some- 
where— these  are  what  we  always  use." 

"  Well — you  must  take  some-, — you  know  I'd  as  leave 
you  had  them  all  as  not,  only  I  must  do  my  duty  as  re- 
ceiver. No,  I  guess  you  needn't  take  those,"  he  said,  as 
after  laying  out  four  breakfast-forks  my  hand  touched  the 


396  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

pile  of  large  ones.  "There — I'll  give  you  two  more  of  the 
small,  and  that'll  be  more  convenient,  for  you  might  have 
a  friend  come  to  see  you.     Won't  that  dof"     ^ 

"  Yes,"  I  said,  wondering  at  the  friend  and  him  together. 

*'  Haven't  you  any  teapot  but  this  V 

"  One  without  a  lid,"  I  said,  feeling  a  strong  desire  to 
laugh. 

"This  '11  have  to  stay  then,"  said  Mr.  Pratt  with  a  half 
groan.  "The  fish-knives  I  guess  we  won't  leave — not 
things  of  general  use, — why  I  don't  think  fish  comes  on  my 
table  above  once  a  year,  sir." 

"I  wonder  what  your  table  has  to  do  with  oursl" 
thought  I. 

"  All  the  rest  must  go — don't  you  want  salt-spoons  ?" 

"  We  should  like  one,"  said  J,  the  corners  of  my  mouth 
twitching  again, — "it  doesn't  matter — we  can  use  a  tea- 
spoon." 

"  No,  take  two,"  said  Mr.  Pratt  as  if  he  felt  a  little 
ashamed  of  his  business.  "  And  now  if  you  have  a  basket 
or  so  I  should  like  to  take  these  things  with  me :  I'll  send 
the  baskets  back  again.  Is  that  lai"ge  table  in  the  dining- 
room  in  constant  use  V 

"  Yes,"  I  said. 

"  I'll  check  that  off  then — this  may  as  well  go.  Would 
you  like  that  engraving  stand  ]" 

"No — I  would  rather  keep  something  else.  Wouldn't 
you,  papa?" 

Mr.  Howard  assented  by  a  slight  motion  of  the  head. 

"This  desk  in  the  study — you  say  it  is  yours,  Mr.  How- 
ard r' 

"The  one  I  am  in  the  habit  of  using  daily.  But  I  can 
do  without  it — "  he  added  after  a  moment. 

Apparently  the  receiver  thought  Mr.  McLoon  could  not, 
for  he  shook  his  head  and  went  on. 

"The  book-rack  goes  of  course — -iind  the  harp." — 

"  It  is  rather  a  strange  proceeding,"  said  my  father  who 
felt  this  last  item  as  I  did,  "  it  is  rather  a  strange  proceed- 
ing for  a  man  to  make  war  upon  ladies'  property  !" 

"Very  sorry — of  course  sir. — Cosuse  in  drawing-room — 
that  goes, — ditto  in  sitting-room. — Well — I  guess  we  must 
call  that  a  mere  elegancy" — said  Mr.  Pratt  after  a  prolonged 


DOLLARS  AND   CESTS.  397 

look  at  it.  "Minerals — shells — I  believe  we  need  go  no 
further, — all  the  rest  are  clearly  luxuries.  Would  you  like 
to  have  tlK^se  four  chairs  in  the  north  bedroom  left,  Miss 
Howard  r 

"  We  can  do  without  them,"  I  answered. 

"  Mr.  Pratt,"  said  Kate  coming  into  the  room,  "  it  would 
be  a  great  convenience  to  us  to  keep  our  dictionaries  at 
least  till  this  business  is  finally  settled." 

"  Certainly  !  Miss  Howard — by  all  means  !  keep  them 
for  good — I  shouldn't  think  of  touching  them — 1  wish  I 
could  leave  everything,  I'm  sure.  It  has  been  a  very  pain- 
ful business  to  me,  indeed." 

She  stood  listening  to  him  with  a  little  of  her  old  look 
of  superiority,  and  some  very  slight  contempt  for  the  pain 
that  was  so  readily  undertaken.  Before  a  stranger  could 
have  seen  either,  they  were  gone. 

"  Do  I  understand  you  sir,  that  we  may  keep  these  dic- 
tionaries in  any  event  f 

"Certainly — in  any  event,"  said  Mr.  Pratt,  who  had 
probably  never  heard  of  any  dictionaries  but  Walker  and 
AVebster, — if  he  had  known  the  number  of  ours  his  "cer- 
tainly" would  perhaps  have  been  more  dubious. 

"If  there  are  any  other  volumes  you  would  like  to  keep 
fc^r  the  present,"  said  Mr.  Pratt  in  an  excess  of  good  na- 
ture, "just  take  them  out  and  give  the  sheriff  a  list  of 
them.     Only  don't  take  too  many." 

"  How  many  ?"  said  Kate. 

"  O — ten  or  twenty  volumes — I  leave  it  to  you.  Don't 
get  me  into  a  scrape  with  McLoon — that's  all !" 

"  I  heard  you  mention  those  two  large  chairs,"  said  Mr. 
Howard. 

"In  the  drawing-room? — yes,  'two  blue  easy-chairs,' — " 
said  Mr.  Pratt,  referring  to  his  list. 

"  They  are  not  mine  nor  bought  with  my  money." 

"  That  should  have  been  mentioned  before,"  said  the  re- 
ceiver, looking  a  little  disturbed.  "Not  yours,  you  say? 
Wtiose  are  theyl" 

"  No — they  were  left  to  my  children  by  a  distant  rela- 
tive. You  particularly  desired,  sir,  if  you  recollect,  that 
such  information  should  be  kept  till  the  list  had  been  gone 


398  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

"  I  don't  know  what  to  do  about  it,"  said  Mr.  Pratt. — 
"  Mr.  McLoon  I  am  sure,  at  least  I  know" — 

"  I  know  what  I  shall  do  if  you  take  them,"  said  my 
father. 

"Well"— said  Mr.  Pratt— " I  don't  know— if  McLoon 
don't  like  it,  I  shall  have  to  take  the  consequences, — how- 
ever I  will  check  them  off.    Now  that  basket,  if  you  please." 

I  brought  the  baskets,  and  Kate  and  I  packed  up  the  sil- 
ver, \vondering  to  ourselves  if  we  should  ever  see  it  again, 
and  thinking  curiously  of  the  times  that  were  gone. 

"If  you  have  no  objection  sir,"  said  Mr.  Pratt,  "I  should 
like  to  put  a  man  in  the  house  here  to-night." 

"  I  have  a  very  strong  objection — it  is  a  thing  I  cannot 
consent  to." 

"It  ain't  needfal,"  put  in  the  sheriff  looking  at  the  re- 
ceiver,—" I'll  risk  it." 

Mr.  Pratt  demurred,  and  I  was  again  near  laughing. 
The  idea  that  we  should  have  so  little  sense  or  honour  as  to 
try  to  make  away  with  what  the  law  had  fairly  seized  upon  ! 

"Well," — said  Mr.  Pratt  again,  "I  believe  we  shall  have 
to  waive  that.  You  give  me  your  word  sir  that  you  will 
let  nothing  be  touched? — just  as  a  favour  sir — do  you]" 

"  Certainly,"  said  my  father. 

"  Very  good  sir,  I  take  your  word  and  the  sheriff  must 
depend  upon  mine.  I  will  venture  it.  You  give  me  your 
word  as  a  man  of  honour,  and  Mr.  Flagg  will  take  mine. 
It's  probable  we  may  send  for  these  things  this  afternoon, 
but  perhaps  not  till  to-morrow.  Mr.  Flagg,  you  will  have 
the  goodness  to  see  to  the  removing  them,  yourself  Have 
you  the  time  Mr.  Howard? — thank  you,  I  can  reach  the 
stage  then.     Good  afternoon  sir,"  arid  they  departed. 


DOLLARS  AND   CENTS.  399 


CHAPTER   XLI 


Bailiff  Humanity,  sir,  is  a  jewel.  It's  better  than  gold.  I  love  humanity. 
People  may  say  that  we  in  our  way  have  no  humanity ;  but  I'll  shew  you  my 
humanity  this  moment.— Good-Natured  Man. 


THE  rest  of  the  afternoon  was  left  to  us  in  peace  and 
quietness ;  that  is,  in  a  way  :  we  had  no  more  intruders, 
and  the  taking  off  seemed  to  be  postponed,  but  still  body 
and  mind  found  enough  to  do  and  not  of  the  pleasantest. 
Our  own  books  and  shells  must  be  collected  and  carried 
upstairs,  with  every  article  of  furniture  that  was  not  on  Mr. 
Pratt's  list;  while  those  things  that  he  claimed  were  as 
much  as  possible  brought  together  and  into  one  part  of  the 
house,  that  the  other  rooms  might  not  be  overrun.  And  in 
the  confiscated  furniture  all  drawers  and  compartments  must 
be  emptied. 

It  was  rather  hard  work.  Our  blank  books  and  papers 
had  a  natural  affinity  for  the  desk,  and  to  take  Mr.  How- 
ard's out  of  his  and  then  to  bestow  them  in  a  pile  upstairs, 
roused  more  than  sorrow.  It  was  but  a  few  months  since 
his  desk  had  been  put  in  order  by  our  own  hands ;  the  out- 
side varnished,  the  inside  cleaned  and  decorated  with  new 
ribbons  and  cloth.  And  all  for  Mr.  McLoon's  benefit ! 
Our  shells  too  were  generally  connecting  links  among  my 
father's  specimens.  We  stood  long  before  the  ebony  cabi- 
net,— taking  up  shell  after  shell,  and  giving  each  a  careful 
examination, — looking  once  more  at  the  well-known  beau- 
ties and  peculiarities  of  Volutes  and  Argonauts  and  Stellc- 
ridians, — of  the  fine  Carinaria  Vitrea  that  my  father  had 
been  so  proud  of; — how  well  we  recollected  the  time  when 
it  was  bought !  They  were  all  old  friends — we  seemed  to 
have  some  special  association  with  every  one. 

"  Do  you  remember,"  said  Kate  as  she  stood  holding  in 


400  DOLLARS  AXD   CFXTS. 

her  hand  Mr.  Howard's  flivourite  Scalaria,  "do  you  re- 
member Grade  when  papa  brought  this  home  ?" 

"  And  you  had  been  sick,  and  he  said  you  should  have 
the  first  sight  of  it — O  yes,  I  remember — how  could  1  for- 
get? You  know  he  had  been  so  fearful  of  not  getting  it — 
the  man  took  so  long  to  make  up  his  mind, — and  then  papa 
was  so  pleased  when  he  had  it  fairly  in  the  house." 

''  What  happy  children  we  were  then  !"  said  Kate. 

"How  Stephanie  used  to  vex  papa  by  calling  this  his 
'trap-shell'!" 

"  She  would  be  sorry  for  us  if  she  knew  all." 

"  It's  better  that  she  don't,"  said  Kate — "  she  has  enough 
to  be  sorry  for  I  dare  say,  or  will  have.  O  I  wish  we  could 
keep  these  stone  lilies  !" 

"  Have  you  taken  out  our  harps  yet,  Katie  1" 

"  No — my  harp  '  par  excellence'  as  that  man  said,  must 
go.  But  these  poor  little  harps — "and  she  pulled  out  the 
drawer. 

"  I  wonder  what  Mr.  McLoon  is  made  of!"  said  I. 

"Hard  to  tell,  Gracie.  But  I  wouldn't  change  places 
with  him  to-night, — we  are  a  great  deal  happier  than  he  is." 
^  "  O  how  much. — And  yet  one  does  love  the  inanimate 
things  one  has  grown  up  among." — 

"  One  look  at  you  has  almost  reconciled  me  to  parting 
with  them,"  said  Kate  smiling.  "  If  you  were  an  Ark  or 
an  Apple  snail,  Gracie,  I  should  show  fight  for  it.  Come 
dear,  it's  no  use  to  look  at  them  any  longer, — let  us  go  and 
get  tea.  I  believe  I  have  taken  out  all  of  ours — O  no — 
here  is  Stephanie's  old  friend,  '  King  Midas.'  " 

"  And  this  Olive. — That's  all,  I  am  sure." 

My  father  kept  himself  perfectly  quiet  during  all  this ; 
looked  at  nothing,  and  except  now  and  then  a  sigh  or  an 
expression  of  patience  or  impatience,  he  sat  silently  reading 
— or  seeming  to  read, — the  pages  not  turned  over  very  fast. 

And  we  had  tea  for  the  last  time  at  our  little  table. — 

I  was  fairly  tired,  hand  and  heart,  and  perhaps  for  that 
reason  feeling  for  to-morrow's  work  ;  but  it  was  a  fatigue 
that  courted  restlessness,  not  rest.  I  found  myself  inclined 
to  have  a  leave-taking  of  the  furniture, — to  seat  myself  in 
the  chairs,  to  look  into  our  old  cabinet-desk,  to  open  differ- 
ent1)Ooks.     Once  I  lay  down  on  the  drawing-room  sofl\,  but 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  401 

I  grew  sad  there;  and  then  tried  to  lose  myself  hi  Waverly 
— hi  its  scenes  of  hnaginary  comfort  and  discomfort.  It 
did  not  rest  me.  The  tears  and  interest  that  one  can  give 
to  such  fiction  must  come  from  a  mind  at  ease, — the  spring 
of  a  sorrowing  heart  lies  away  from  its  reach ;  and  the 
pages  I  looked  at  were  interlined  with  our  own  history. 

The  morning  came, — foggy,  threatening,  sending  down 
a  few  drops  now  and  then  to  show  its  intentions,  as  Mr. 
Pratt  took  away  our  Holbein  to  show  his.  So  doubtful 
indeed  was  the  weather,  that  neither  sheriff  nor  assistants 
appeared  before  mid-day,  and  I  half  began  to  hope  that 
our  eyes  might  have  some  short  reprieve  from  bare  walls. 
Meantime  Kate  and  I  sat  quietly  at  our  copying,  having 
made  the  last  necessary  arrangements  and  persuaded  Mrs. 
Howard  to  keep  herself  out  of  the  way  of  all  trouble  and 
confusion. 

But  the  sun  came  out,  and  the  sheriff  came  in ;  and 
with  him  a  man  into  whose  charge  he  was  to  give  the  furni- 
ture, and  an  array  of  other  men  to  move  it.  Among  them 
were  several  who  had  formerly  worked  for  us — it  looked 
strange  to  see  flimiliar  faces  about  such  unfamiliar  work ; 
and  wagons  of  all  sorts  were  clustered  as  near  the  house  as 
the  grounds  would  allow.  There  were  so  many  hands  in- 
deed, that  the  work  proceeded  rapidly.  My  father  with  a 
sort  of  tender  regard  for  his  old  possessions,  gave  many  a 
hint  as  to  how  they  should  be  moved  or  packed,  and  now 
and  then  we  were  called  upon  to  find  some  missing  article, 
or  give  up  some  key.  On  one  of  these  occasions  I  reached 
the  drawing-room  just  in  time  to  take  a  last  look  at  our 
Hebe.  The  little  figure  was  moved  out  of  its  place,  and 
stood  in  the  full  light  from  the  windows  with  one  or  two 
straggling  sunbeams  striking  across  it.  I  had  hardly  ever 
seen  it  so  pretty,  and  summoning  Kate  from  her  work  we 
stood  and  looked  at  it  together.  Looked  and  thought.  We 
remembered  that  Hebe  almost  as  lonj:  i\^o  as  thousrht  went 
l)ack — my  father  had  brought  her  from  Italy  when  we  were 
l-ittle  children ;  and  into  how  many  a  conversation  had  she 
been  wrought — how  many  a  gathering  of  loved  faces  had 
we  seen  near  her.  And  now  we  were  to  part  company. 
Yet  there  she  stood  with  the  same  graceful  attitude,  the 
same  sweet  bi-ightness  of  face,   the  same  joyousness — so 


402  DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS. 

like  what  we  had  been,  so  unlike  what  we  were  now  !  Kate 
went  away  with  full  eyes. 

We  were  writing  at  the  large  dining-table  which  was 
left  us,  when  my  father  came  in. 

"I  can't  make  out  which  of  these  upstairs  things  are  to 
go" — he  said. 

'■^  She  knows,"  said  the  second  receiver  peering  round 
Mr.  Howard's  shoulder,  and  indicating  me  by  a  motion  of 
his  head — which  was  "  sorely  unkempt." — "  She  knows — 
Why  couldn't  she  come  and  tell  about  'em  V 

"  It  is  a  good  deal  of  trouble  for  ladies  to  take,"  said  my 
father  rather  sternly. 

"01  don't  mind  the  trouble  papa — pray  let  us  have  no 
mistakes  made." 

Upstairs  I  went,  through  quite  an  avenue  of  "  unkempt" 
heads  and  extraordinary  hats ;  followed  by  my  father,  the 
sheriff,  the  receiver,  and  several  helpers.  These  last  muttered 
to  each  other  concerning  the  beauty  or  the  weight  of  sundry 
articles, — sometimes,  I  thought,  with  no  fiivourable  allusion 
to  Mr.  McLoon  and  his  proceedings.  •.  The  sheriff's  eye 
kept  somewhat  of  the  same  watch  of  me  that  it  had  done  the 
day  before ;  while  receiver  Flagler's  look  and  manner  evi- 
dently showed  that  he  considered  me  as  some  sort  of  a  vi- 
sion— without  whose  aid  it  would  be  impossible  to  get  safely 
through  the  business. 

"  You  say  this  is  the  one  ? — Take  it  along  then — " 

It  was  well  I  had  my  father's  punctilious  notions  of 
honour. 

"  Wouldn't  you  like  to  have  them  'ere  green  settees  left  V* 
said  Mr.  Flagler  in  an  interval  of  directing  the  helpers. 

"  The  green  settees'?"  said  I. 

"  Well  I  don'  know  what  they  be — them  things  out  in 
the  ^garden.     Don't  you  use  'em  every  day  ?" 

I  could  not  say  yes — to  my  sorrow. 

"  Not  at  this  season, — in  summer  we  use  them  a  great 
deal." 

Mr.  Flagler  looked  sorry  too ;  he  wanted  to  do  me  a 
kindness. 

"  Thete  is  another  thing  we  should  like  to  have  left — 
very  much,"  I  said.  ''This  large  easy -chair  in  one  of  the 
bedrooms — it  is  a  great  comfort  in  case  of  sickness,  and 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  403 

such  a  thing  cannot  be  borrowed  in  the  country.  If  you 
could  leave  it  for  the  present — and  then  if  the  matter 
should  not  be  settled  Mr.  McLoon  can  easily  send  for 
it."— 

"  I'll  leave  it !"  said  the  receiver  giving  the  vision  an 
extraordinary  number  of  nods.  "I'll  leave  it — at  a 
ventur." 

"Such  a  thing  oughtn't  to  be  took,  no  how,"  said  the 
sheriif. 

"  Xo,  no—"  said  Mr.  Flagle'r.     "  I'll  leave  it !" 

Once  more  released,  I  went  back  to  my  writing ;  but 
soon  the  tea-room  door  opened  and  the  sheriff  and  ^Ir. 
Flagler  stepped  in.  The  latter  looked  at  us  and  then  at 
his  list. 

"It's  put  down  'four  maple-chairs  in  tea-room'" — he 
said.  "  It's  'most  too  bad  to  disturb  you !  Be  them  the 
ones  1" 

The  four  maple-chairs,  (which  were  tea-room  extras) 
stood  there  certainly — the  only  chairs  in  the  room ;  but 
Kate  and  I  immediately  quitted  the  two  we  had  in  use,  and 
informed  Mr.  Flagler  that  his  list  was  correct. 

"Wouldn't  you  like  to  have  'em  1"  said  the  sheriff. 

"  O  no" — said  Kate  smiling ;  "  they  may  as  well  go  with 
the  rest.     Four  chairs  cannot  make  much  difference  to  us.'* 

The  merv  had  no  words  to  answer;  and  while  the  chairs 
were  carried  off  in  silence,  I  perched  myself  upon  a  four- 
legged  stool,  and  Kate  wheeled  in  one  of  the  blue  easy- 
chairs  which  belonged  to  us  by  virtue  of  inheritance,  and 
so  were  out  of  Mr.  McLoon's  power. 

So  wore  on  the  day ;  and  before  sundown  the  last  man 
of  the  posse,  the  last  article  on  the  list  were  out  of  the 
house,  and  we  had  gladly  locked  the  doors  behind  them. 
Not  because  there  was  much  in  the  house  worth  coming 
for  again,  but  because  we  wanted  some  tangible  barrier 
between  us  and  those  clumping  steps,  rough  faces  and  harsh 
voices,  with  which  our  eyes  and  ears  had  been  filled.  The 
mere  thought  of  any  footfiill  but  our  own  was  painful, — our 
heads  were  almost  in  a  whirl.  But  when  the  doors  were 
fast,  and  Mr.  Howard  established  before  a  blazing  fire  in 
the  kitchen,  we  went  softly  about  the  house  to  see  how  it 
looked. 


404  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

Strange  ! — strange ! — we  realized  that  our  drawing-room 
had  four  corners !  It  had  been  used  to  wear  a  sufRciently 
comfortable  and  well-to-do  aspect,  but  now  it  might  have 
been  the  ground-floor  of  a  barn, — even  the  scattered  wisps 
of  hay  were  not  wanting.  Here  was  a  dark  stain  in  the 
place  where  some  old  picture  or  engraving  had  long  greeted 
our  eyes ; — here  on  the  bare  floor  little  indentations  marked 
the  former  locality  of  the  ebony  cabinet ;  while  on  the  wall 
long  dusty  cobwebs  told  what  had  been  for  many  a  year 
the  background  of  our  univalves  and  conchifera, — here  was 
a  blank  strip  of  plaster  where  once  had  fallen  the  soft  shad- 
ow of  our  Hebe.  Shadowy  enough  now ! — the  things  we 
had  grown  up  among  were  wafted  away  into  dreamland, — 
we  should  see  them  no  more  unless  there.  Our  Hebe ! — 
it  was  Mr.  McLoon's;  and  that  last  stroke  of  our  little 
fairy's  wand  had  conjured  herself  away  with  the  rest.  We 
almost  wondered  whether  we  were  not  some  family  of 
Smiths,  just  waked  up  ! 

Clearly  the  first  thing  was  to  have  tea,  with  such  an  in- 
fusion of  dinner  as  our  appetites  would  warrant ;  and  that 
over  we  went  to  business. 

Our  sitting-room  carpet  had  been  left,  because  Messrs. 
Flagg  and  Flagler  said  it  might  as  well  be  ;  and  this  once 
swept  oflf  we  proceeded  to  test  our  resources.  The  half- 
dozen  despised  chairs  were  placed  about  the  room  with  as 
little  stitfness  as  the  circumstances  would  permit — there 
being  nothing  to  diversify  them  but  Mrs.  Howard's  work- 
stand  and  two  odd  taborets.  Next  the  two  blue  chairs 
were  brought  in,  and  looked  astonished  to  find  themselves 
in  such  company,  but  very  comfortable  nevertheless.  An 
escaped  lamp  stood  upon  the  stand,  and  before  it  we 
presently  set  a  small  dish  of  late  flowers  "  to  make  our- 
selves feel  at  home."  The  fire  burned  brightly,  and  every- 
thing rather  surpassed  our  expectations ;  but — we  had  no 
table. 

"  What  will  you  do,  dear  mamma  T  said  Kate.  "  Shall 
we  take  turns  in  holding  the  lamp  %  or  shall  we  eschew 
work  and  be  sociable  %  We  never  can  sit  round  your  work- 
stand." 

"  No,"  said  Mrs.  Howard  who  had  been  thinking  busily, 
"  I  have  a  better  plan.     We  will  take  the  little  kitchen 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  405 

taLle  that  holds  the  water-pail,  and  make  a  top  to  it  of  that 
moulding-board  which  is  too  large  to  use." 

"  And  the  first  time  papa  puts  his  elbow  on  it,  lamp  and 
all  will  go  over." — 

"  He  shall  not  put  his  elbow  on  it  till  he  has  screwed  the 
two  parts  together.     I  will  have  it  done  at  once." 

Done  it  was,  and  covered  with  a  cloth,  and  then  our  room 
was  furnished.  But  there  was  little  else  done  that  evening, 
though  the  lamp  stood  steady,  and  the  nondescript  table 
presented  a  fair  field  for  work.  We  sat  resting.  Night 
before  last  at  sunset  everything  was  in  fair,  peaceful  order, 
with  no  fear  of  disturbance  ;  and  now — everywhere  but  in 
that  room  it  might  as  well  have  been  an  auctioneer's  do- 
main as  ours.  "  Well" — as  we  all  said  when  the  subject 
was  mentioned ;  but  it  took  us  long  to  get  used  to  the 
change,  and  frequently  we  said  "  where  is  such  a  thing  1 — 
O — those  people  have  got  it !" 


406  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 


CHAPTER  XLII. 


Not  always  fall  of  leaf,  nor  ever  spring ; 

Not  endless  night,  nor  yet  eternal  day ; 
The  saddest  birds  a  season  find  to  sing ; 

The  roughest  storm  a  calm  may  soon  allay; 
Thus  with  succeeding  turns  God  tempereth  all, 
That  man  may  hope  to  rise,  yet  fear  to  fall. 

Southwell. 


A  GOOD  part  of  the  next  few  days  was  spent  in  making 
the  house  what  Mrs.  Barrington  would  have  called 
"  broom-clean"  ; — and  ourselves  proportionably  dusty. 

"  My  dear  Kate !"  I  said,  "  you  look  as  if  you  had  been 
enacting  Miss  Brown !" 

"  So  does  somebody  else  I  know  of,"  replied  Kate  as  she 
untied  the  handkerchief  that  was  over  her  head.  "  I  really 
think  Mr.  McLoon  might  have  sent  people  here  to  do  the 
sweeping.  It  is  rather  too  much  to  take  away  all  one's 
furniture  and  make  one  clear  up  after  it." 

"  Perhaps  he  thought  we  should  be  too  disheartened  to 
attempt  such  a  thing." 

"  I  wish  we  could  enact  Miss  Brown,  I  am  sure,"  said 
Kate,  "so  far  as  to  have  a  good  ride, — there  has  a  smaH 
portion  of  this  dust  settled  upon  my  mind  and  spiiits.  I 
wonder  who  has  got  our  poor  ponies  now !  O  Puck  and 
Mopsa !" — 

" '  Poor  ponies'  indeed  !  I  don't  doubt  they  are  as  fat  as 
can  be.  But  we  couldn't  have  much  good  of  them — with 
papa  away  all  the  time." 

"  I  don't  think  he  will  be  away  any  more — if  he  can  get 
engineering  business  or  anything  to  do  in  this  region." 

"  That  would  be  very  pleasant !  O  Katie — it  doesn't 
matter  so  much  after  all — the  losing  these  things, — we  have 
such  comfort  in  each  other  !" 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  407 

"  A  great  deal,  dear  Gracie !"  said  Kate  kissing  me. 

"  Don't  you  think  you  would  take  still  more  comfort  in 
each  other  if  you  were  rid  of  the  dusty  dresses  ?"  said  Mrs. 
Howard  coming  into  our  room.  "  I  assure  you  I  find  it  a 
pleasant  change." 

"  My  dear  mamma !"  said  Kate,  "  how  lovely  you  look  ! 
— and  what  dreadful  ideas  you  do  suggest !  Are  we  abso- 
lutely not  fit  to  touch  faces  f 

"  Not  quite  presentable,"  she  said  with  a  smile;  "  and  the 
sooner  you  are  iu  order  the  sooner  you  can  sit  down  and 
rest." 

"  It  is  a  remarkable  thing  how  tastes  may  change,"  said 
Kate, — "  I  used  to  have  rather  a  despising  of  calico  dresses, 
and  now  that  clean  one  of  mamma's  looked  positively  de- 
lightful !" 

We  began  to  dress  accordingly,  still  eyeing  everything 
with  a  sort  of  wonder,  and  wondering  at  ourselves  a  little 
as  well,  for  our  quietness ;  but  mind  and  body  were  too 
weary  to  be  unquiet. 

"  Are  you  almost  dressed,"  said  Mrs.  Howard  coming 
up  again.  "  Here  is  Squire  Suydam  wants  you  to  take  a 
drive  ^vith  him." 

"  A  drive,  mamma  ?     Squire  Suydam  !" 

"  Even  so,  Katie, — what  do  you  say  ?" 

*'  O  I  should  like  it  so  much  !"  said  I. 

"  How  very  kind  of  him  I"  said  Kate.  "  I  should  like  it 
too — exceedingly." 

"  Get  ready  then,  at  once, — don't  give  him  occasion  to 
repeat  his  maxim  about  ladies  and  dawdling.  You  had 
better  take  the  key  of  the  front  door  with  you,  for  perhaps 
I  shall  go  out  to  walk  with  your  fiither, — we  can  take  the 
other,  and  you  might  get  home  first." 

We  were  so  quick  in  our  movements  that  Mr.  Suydam 
was  fairly  surprised. 

"  Why — Miss — Kate !" — he  said.  "  Confess  that  you  had 
your  bonnets  on  when  I  came." 

-  "Yes  sir,"  said  Kate  laughing,  "  we  have  been  all  ready 
for  some  time,  expecting  you." 

*'  I — thought — so" — he  replied,  nodding  his  head  at  us, — 
"  that  makes  it  all  clear.  Now  then,  let's  be  off.  Don't 
mind  jolting,  do  you  "?" 


40S  DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS, 

"  Not  at  all  sir." 

"  That's  well,  for  these  rains  have  played  cut  and  come 
again  with  the  roads." 

So  with  a  kind  of  bustling  gallantry  that  became  him 
very  wel],  Mr.  Suydam  hurried  us  out  to  the  little  nonde- 
script wagon  (in  no  nondescript  order  however)  and  placing 
us  on  the  back  seat  he  placed  himself  on  the  front  in  a  kind 
of  sideway  position — giving  one  eye  to  his  horses  and  the 
other  to  us — or  rather  the  corner  of  one  eye, — which  was 
perhaps  his  favourite  way  of  looking. 

"My  girls,"  he  said,  as  he  cleared  the  reins  and  gave 
himself  two  or  three  little  preparatory  M'raps  in  his  great 
coat ;  "  my  girls  Miss  Kate,  my  nieces  that  is,  are  so 
fashionable  that  they  won't  hear  of  a  buffalo  skin  anywhere 
but  in  a  sleigh, — they'd  rather  be  cold.  I  suppose  you  have 
more  sense  ]" 

"  I  have  a  great  predilection  for  being  warm  sir." 

"  Eh  ?"  said  the  Squire — "  I'm  afraid  that  answer  was  a 
spice  of  the  same  thing — smacks  of  Philadelphia  sadly, — 
there's  no  such  thing  as  a  straight  road  to  market  now-a- 
days.  Well,  keep  yourselves  tucked  up — the  buffalo's 
clean — no  need  to  be  afraid  of  it." 

And  leaning  back  the  Squire  lent  vigorous  aid  to  what 
he  called  "our  shilly-shally  attempts  at  tucking  up."  It 
was  well  that  our  dresses  were  not  too  handsome  to  be 
mussed. 

The  roads  were  indeed  none  of  the  smoothest ;  and  we 
tried  what  our  friend  called  "  dive  and  come  again"  pretty 
often.  A  fine  fresh  wind  blew  from  the  north,  and  now 
swept  up  the  ftillcn  leaves  into  heaps, — now  sent  them 
dancing  and  frolickmg  off  over  the  smooth  ground  in  a  way 
that  often  made  us  laugh.  White  clouds  came  drifting 
thick  and  fast,  but  the  wind  was  sometimes  too  much  for 
them  as  for  the  leaves ;  and  would  sweep  us  a  piece  of 
clear  sky  from  which  the  sun  shone  down  gloriously.  On 
some  of  the  trees  their  thin  and  ftided  tapestry  yet  hung ; 
and  here  and  there  an  oak  stood  in  a  richness  of  colour 
that  was  rather  deep  than  gay,  among  its  leafless  neigh- 
bours. The  ground  had  been  too  thoroughly  wet  for  even 
that  wind  to  raise  a  dust;  and  the  whirling  troops  of  leaves 
— izav  and  browu  and  shrivelled — skimmed  and  careered 


DOLL  AH S  JJTD  CEXTS.  409 

about  with  every  possible  vagary  ;  and  said  what  a  lawles3 
thing  the  wind  was. 

Everybody  seemed  to  be  abroad, — the  Squire  was  per- 
petually nodding  or  touching  his  hat, — calling  out  to  one 
man  about  grain,  and  to  another  about  boards,  and  to 
another  about  his  wife  and  children ;  while  Kate  and  I  sat 
quietly  smiling  at  the  odd  answers  and  sometimes  questions 
that  were  returned  to  him. 

We  passed  our  little  mill — Mr.  McLoon's  now — working 
away  with  its  foaming  dash  of  water;  and  breathed  just 
one  sigh,  not  for  the  loss  of  the  mill  but  for  the  associ- 
ations, half  sad  half  pleasant,  that  we  had  with  it.  Thea 
a  turn  brought  us  by  the  Green  hill  whither  we  had  so 
often  walked ;  and  another  shewed  us  the  Bird's  Nest  with 
its  halo  of  recollections,  and  another  the  pretty,  wooded 
slope  of  Jack's  bean ;  while  further  yet  rose  Pillimaquady, 
so  pleasant  to  us  now  in  all  its  roughness. 

Then  come  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carvill  on  horseback, — the 
lady  in  a  perfect  flutter,  the  gentleman  taking  the  wind 
with  his  usual  nonchalance  ;  and  we  are  honoured  with  quite 
a  profound  reverence  from  him,  while  her  recognition  might 
be  only  an  involuntary  tribute  to  the  north-wester.  And 
Squire  Suydam  ejaculates, 

*' Fiddlesticks ! — and  yet  there's  some  good  in  him 
too." 

Then  we  meet  Mr.  Ellis  quietly  trudging  along,  with  his 
never-failing  associates — Dec  and  his  good  stick  ; — and  his 
bright  smile  goes  with  us  for  the  next  two  miles. 

"  There  she  comes !"  said  the  ^uire  apostrophizing  Miss 
Brown  in  the  distance ; — "  if  I  went  out  at  midnight  I 
should  meet  that  girl  scampering  somewhere!  I  wonder 
her  things  don't  all  fly  off" from  sheer  inability  to  keep  up  with 
her ! — Where  now.  Miss  Harriet  1 — if  you  keep  on  at  that 
rate  you'll  run  over  Mr.  Carvill  presently.  Beats  cock- 
fighting!"  he  added  half  to  himself,  "that  girls  can't  rest 
without  being  boys !  Always  at  boys'  work,  and  always 
wanting  boys  about  'em  too  ! — If  I  was  a  boy,  I'd  see  'em 
further !  Get  up !"  said  Mr.  Suydam  impatiently  to  his 
horses. — "  What  are  you  about  ]     Come  !" 

Again  we  drive  silently  on,  towards  home  now,  and  see- 
ing one  after  another  of  the  familiar  way-marks.     Here  we 


410  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

had  rested  in  some  walk,  here  we  had  watched  for  the  stage 
when  we  expected  my  father. 

"  If  I  don't  mistake,"  said  Squire  Suydam,  "  yonder  comes 
one  of  your  friends  Miss  Kate." 

"One  of  my  friends  sir? — where  1" 

"Yonder" — repeated  the  Squire  extending  his  whip  in 
the  direction  of  the  Honiton  turnpike, — "  Mr.  Rodney 
Collingwood — he's  one  of  your  Triends,  ain't  he  *?" 

"  Certainly  sir — but  I  don't  see  him." 

"  Don't  you  1  well  no  more  do  I." 

And  as  we  descended  a  little  hill  the  Squire  began  to 
sing  to  himself  to  pass  away  the  time. 

*'  *  And  how  should  I  know  your  true  love, 

From  many  another  one  V 

*  0  by  his  cockle  hat  and  staff, 

And  by  his  sandal  shoon.' 

That's  one  of  the  best  ballads  that  ever  were  written ! — 
"  Now  Miss  Kate,"  he  said  as  we  came  upon  high  ground 
again,  "  don't  you  see  a  horseman  away  oif  on  the  turnpike  ? 
— if  that's  anybody  else  my  eyes  ain't  as  good  as  they  used 
to  be, — there's  nobody  in  this  neighbourhood  rides  as  he 
does — I  can  tell  him  better  on  horseback  than  on  foot. 
Ay,  ay,"  said  the  Squire  nodding  his  head  and  apostrophi- 
zing Mr.  Rodney  now ;  "  you  think  you  are  going  to  get 
to  Glen  Luna  first,  but  you're  mistaken, — serve  you  just 
right  if  I  turned  about  and  went  somewhere  else — would 
if  my  horses  weren't  tired.  Well  you  are  in  a  hurry  for 
once !" 

"  Do  you  really  think  that  is  he,  Mr.  Suydam  ?"  I  said. 

"  Ask  your  sister."      ff 

"  Why  my  eyes  are  as  good  as  hers,"  I  said  laughing. 

"  Are  they  1 — well — ask  your  own  then, — I've  told  you 
what  mine  say,  Miss  Grace.  Is  there  anybody  else  you're 
expecting  V 

"  We  are  not  expecting  him,  sir." 

"  Ain't  you  1 — well  he's  coming,  anyway.  Now  my 
young  sir,  I'll  try  conclusions  with  you." 

"  I  wonder  what  the  conclusion  will  be !"  said  Kate 
laughing,  as  our  increased  rate  of  progress  made  us  and  the 
mud  fly  in  almost  equal  proportion. 

"Jolts? — does  it?"  said  the  Squire  returning  to  his  seat 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  411 

after  an  experimental  leap  into  the  air.  "  Ne-ver  mind — 
all  good  for  the  complexion.  So! — Why  where  is  that 
youngster  going  ?" 

"To  the  Lea,"  I  said — "he  always  leaves  his  horse 
there." 

"Always  does,  does  he?"  said  the  Squire.  "Never 
leaves  himself  there  too,  I  suppose  1" 

"  Not  often,"  said  I  smiling. 

"Thought  not. — What's  your  idea  of  volcanos  and 
earthquakes'?"  said  Mr.  Suydam  suddenly  facing  round 
upon  us.  "  Think  they're  nice  things  to  subject  people  to, 
ehr 

But  his  quizzical  look  and  manner  made  me  laugh  so, 
that  he  got  no  ansNver. 

"  You're  nothing  but  a  simpleton  !"  he  said  turning  back 
with  pretended  impatience,  and  driving  furiously  on  till  he 
reached  our  horseblock  which  was  a  little  way  from  the 
house. 

"  Here  we  are, — there  he  is  too.  Now  just  sit  still 
everyone  of  you  till  I've  had  my  say, — if  you're  once  out 
you'll  be  all  off  together  and  I  sha'n't  see  the  end  of  a  bon- 
net-string in  half  a  minute.  Very  good,  Mr.  Rodney — you 
may  touch  your  cap  and  unglove  if  you  please  sir, — but 
you  may  not  shake  hands  with  anyone  but  me  till  I've  done 
with  you.  Now  what  kind  of  a  flying  visit  are  you  going 
to  make  this  time  V 

"  Such  a  one  as  forty-eight  hours  can  fly  away  with,  sir," 
said  Mr.  Rodney  smiling. 

"Hum — well,  come  and  dine  with  me  to-morrow,  will 
you  ?  or  have  you  quite  forgotten  Slope  Hill  V 

"  I  have  not  indeed  sir,  nor  any  of  its  kind  inmates, — 
but  to-morrow  Mr.  Suydam — I  have  just  promised  Carvill 
that  I  will  dine  at  the  Lea  to-morrow.  I  will  come  and  see 
Mrs,  Suydam  at  all  events  before  I  go." 

"  Nothing  to  be  done  with  you,  I  sec,"  said  the  Squire 
shaking  his  head.  "  When  are  you  to  be  quit  of  those  in- 
terminable Faculties  V 

"In  February,"  said  Mr.  Collingwood  laughing. 

"  And  then  you'll  go  ofl"  in  a  pufl*  of  smoke." — 

"  A  puff*  of  smoke !  No  Mr.  Suydam,  I  hope  for  a 
brighter  discharge  from  the  '  Faculties'  than  that." 


41^  DOLLARS  AKD  CEITrS. 

"  Hum" — said  the  Squire, — "  well — I  don't  know — 2, 
puff  of  smoke's  a  reasonable  bright  thing — with  a  flame  in 
the  midst  of  it !" 

It  was  a  picture — but  one  to  which  I  wanted  the  key. 
The  old  Squire  sat  half  round  in  his  seat,  looking  down  at 
his  favourite  with  the  most  benign  and  concentrated  gravity ; 
and  Mr.  CoUingwood  had  hitherto  listened  and  replied  with 
all  his  usual  frank  and  changing  expression  of  face  and 
voice.  But  at  this  last  remark  the  eyes  went  down,  and  if 
the  lips  had  parted  at  all,  it  would  have  been  to  laugh  and 
not  to  speak.  As  it  was  they  rebelled  somewhat  against 
control. 

"I  guess  you  don't  want  any  brighter  discharge  than 
that !"  said  Mr.  Suydam  after  a  minute,  his  own  features 
relaxing  a  little.  "  It's  about  good  enough  for  you  ! — Just 
hand  these  young  ladies  down — if  you  ain't  afraid  to  look 
at  anybody — and  that'll  save  me  the  trouble  of  getting 
down  myself.  Will  you  be  all  ready  if  I  come  for  you 
again  f — 

"  Yes  sir,"  said  Kate  as  she  sprang  out ;  "  we  have  en- 
joyed the  ride  too  much  not  to  want  another." 

"  Very  well  Miss — I'll  come  for  you  as  long  as  you'll  let 
me.  And  don't  let  that  child  get  a  nervous  fever, — she's 
just  primed  for  it." 

Enforcing  his  words  with  a  warning  nod,  the  Squire 
drove  off. 

"  Is  that  true  Gracie  1"  said  Mr.  Rodney  with  a  look  of 
mingled  kindness  and  amusement.  "  What  has  happened 
to  your  nerves  since  I  went  away  f 

This  was  a  hard  question,  for  it  brought  back  the  disa- 
greeable events  which  our  long  drive  had  banished.  Kate 
and  I  glanced  at  each  other  in  some  uncertainty, — how 
were  we  to  tell  what  it  would  give  our  friend  so  much  pain 
to  hear  % 

"  It  would  not  do  to  take  up  anything  Mr.  Suydam  says 
to-day,"  I  answered  evasively,  "  for  he  is  in  a  most  unac- 
countable mood." 

"  How  long  have  you  been  at  home  f 

"  Hardly  a  month." 

"  And  have  been  enjoying  it  more  than  ever  1" 

*'  We  were  very  glad  to  get  back" — said  Kate  hesitating 


DOLLARS  AXD  CESTS.  413 

a  little, — "  but — you  know  '  the  mind  is  its  own  place' — 
and  things  are  not  always  just  what  they  seem." 

"  I  hope  not  I'm  sure.'"  said  Mr.  Rodney  smiling,  "  for 
you  seem  to  be  particularly  grave  and  absent.  What  is 
the  mind's  place  at  present  ?  Have  you  sent  it  with  Mr. 
Suydam  to  Slope  Hill  ]" 

''  No  indeed,''  said  Kate  stopping  short  as  we  neared  the 
threshold.  "Mr.  Rodney — I  have  been  debating  with 
myself  whether  I  had  better  ask  you  to  come  in." 

''  "Well  ?" — he  said  with  a  very  bright  glance,  "  and  how 
have  you  settled  the  question  ?" 

'•  I  think  on  the  whole  you  will  be  most  comfortable  out 
of  doors." 

"Yes  Mr.  Rodney,"  I  said,  "you  had  best  be  content 
with  this  prospect — if  you  go  further  you  may  fare  worse." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  '  this  prospect'  ? — the  prospect 
of  standing  here  till  Friday  and  talking  to  you  through  the 
window  ]  I  think  I  must  respectfully  decline  that,  and 
let  myself  in." 

"  No,  stop,"  said  Kate  touching  his  arm  with  her  hand, 
"  don't  go  in  yet — I  want  to  talk  to  you.  You  have 
studied  so  many  '  out-of  the-way  things'  as  Stephanie  says, 
did  you  ever  hear  of  a  family  who  were  deprived  of  their 
Lares,  or  Penates,  or  whatever  you  call  the  presiding  im- 
ages ]" 

"  Such  things  have  been,"  said  Mr.  Rodney  with  a  smile ; 
"  but  at  present  I  think  Mr.  Howard's  Lares  are  only  out 
of  doors." 

"  But  the  difficulty  is,"  I  said,  "  they  can  never  be  got  in 
again — those  that  Kate  means." 

"  And  what  does  she  mean  1"  he  said,  his  look  suddenly 
changing, — "  nay,  you  must  not  talk  riddles  to  me  with 
such  a  voice.  Come  Miss  Kate,"  he  added,  taking  hold  of 
the  hand  which  had  hitherto  detained  him,  "  what  is  the 
matter  ? — I  shall  not  let  you  go  till  you  tell  me." 

"  I  am  thinking,"  said  Kate,  half  laughing  because  she 
would  not  cry,  and  with  her  eyes  apparently  fixed  upon 
the  lake ;  "  1  am  thinking  of  a  man  who  forgot  that  he 
was  wounded  until  he  had  to  tell  his  friend  of  it." 

"  And  whose  friend  thought  the  most  merciful  thing  was 
to  show  him  the  wound  quickly." — 


414  DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS. 

"  Mr.  Rodney,"  she  said,  "  do  you  remember  Mr.  Free- 
man's definition  of  a  family  in  moving  time  ? — '  the  house 
in  one  place  and  the  furniture  in  another'  f 

"  Perfectly  !"  he  said  looking  earnestly  at  her. 

"That  is  precisely  our  involuntary  condition."  And 
turning  hastily  round,  Kate  opened  the  door  and  we 
entered. 

How  different  things  appear,  looked  at  through  other  eyes 
and  through  our  own !  Never  had  the  room  seemed  so 
bare,  so  essentially  four-cornered, — we  knew  how  it  must 
strike  one  so  sympathetically  keen-sighted  as  the  person  who 
followed  us.  He  said  nothing  however,  and  we  havinoj 
called  his  attention  to  one  of  the  blue  chairs  that  yet  stood 
before  the  fire,  ran  upstairs  to  take  off  our  things.  One 
look  we  gave  each  other, — silently  saying  that  the  sight  of 
a  friendly  face  had  more  nearly  unnerved  us  than  had  all 
the  rough  encounters  of  the  past  week ;  and  then  we  went 
down  to  give  at  least  the  brightening  effect  of  our  pres- 
ence. 

Disregarding  the  arm-chair,  Mr.  Rodney  stood  by  the 
table,  which  we  had  left  strewed  with  law-papers — copied 
and  uncopied. 

"  I  will  ask  other  questions  when  I  am  not  bewildered," 
he  said ;  "  in  the  mean  time  will  you  please  to  tell  me 
what  you  are  about  here  1" 

"  Only  a  little  profitable  amusement,"  said  Kate  looking 
laughingly  up  at  him. 

But  his  look  in  return  had  nearly  overcome  us  both. 

*'  More  profitable  for  character  than  health,  I  fear,"  he 
said  presently, — "  you  are  looking  pale." 

"  No  I  am  not — "  said  Kate  with  some  effort  after  voice 
and  smile  together, — "  it  is  only  a  reflection — induced  by 
these  papers.  You  must  talk  to  Grace  about  nervous  fe- 
vers." 

"  I  don't  wonder  Squire  Suydam  talked  about  them — 
there  was  more  nervousness  than  strength  in  the  hand  that 
copied  this  sheet,  certainly." 

"  But  how  do  you  know  it  was  mine  1"  1  said. — "Maybe 
it  was  Kate's." 

Mr.  Rodney  smiled,  for  the  first  time  since  he  entered 
the  house. 


DOLLARS  AXD   CESTS.  415 

"  That  does  seem  like  rather  a  random  remark,  Gracie/' 
he  said.  ''  But  is  it  absolutely  necessary  that  this  work 
should  go  on  this  afternoon  ]  because  in  that  case  I  shall 
petition  for  a  pen  too — or  seize  upon  one  of  these." 
.  •'  O  no,"  we  said,  "  it  need  not  go  on, — there  is  no  hurry, 
—and  this  is  nothing  either  new  or  dreadful,  Mr.  Rodney, 
so  you  need  not  look  grave  about  it." 

But  they  were  very  grave  eyes  that  watched  us  as  we 
folded  up  pleas  and  demurrers,  and  put  them  away  out  of 
sight. 

"  Now,"  said  Kate,  "  if  you  will  just  sit  down  in  that 
great  chair  and  look  at  the  fire,  you  will  forget  all  that  is  or 
is  not  behind  you." 

"  Put  3^ourself  in  it  Miss  Kate,  and  you  Gracie  in  that 
other ;  and  I  will  sit  here  and  look  at  what  I  like.  Now 
tell  me  all  that  I  want  to  know — all  that  you  have  been 
enduring  while  I  thought  of  you  as  so  happy  and  peaceful." 
.  "  Happy  and  peaceful  we  have  been  in  spite  of  it,"  said 
Kate ; — "  a  little  wearied,  a  little  tried — enough  to  make  us 
appreciate  friendly  faces ;  but  the  confusion  of  the  house 
did  not  reach  far  into  our  minds,  and  we  have  been  much 
less  cast  down  than  I  could  have  believed  beforehand. 
Even  papa,  and  you  know  it  came  hardest  upon  him." 

"  Very  hard  !  it  must  have  been." 

"  Yes,  very  hard ;  and  yet  we  have  taken  it  so  quietly — 
it  might  have  been  so  much  worse." 

His  eye  glanced  round  the  room,  and  Kate  and  I  could 
not  help  smiling. 

"  You  won't  find  the  ameliorating  circumstances  if  you 
look  for  them,"  said  Kate, — "  they  address  themselves 
chiefly  to  the  ear.  But  shouldn't  we  be  very  unwise  people 
to  grieve  over  such  losses  when  papa  has  tried  to  put  a 
bright  face  upon  them,  and  when  we  are  so  well,  and  so 
happy  in  each  other?  Cannot  you  take  a  sprig  of  true 
wych-hazel  this  morning  f 

"  If  I  do  it  will  be  from  another  bush." 

"You  see  my  dream  came  true,  Mr.  Rodney,"  I  said. 

I  could  not  quite  understand  his  smile — it  was  for  a  mo- 
ment so  sad  in  all  its  affectionate  sympathy. 

"  I  very  often  think  of  Miss  Easy's  words,"  he  said,  "that 
she  wondered  how  she  could  ever  be  sorry  for  anything  that 


416  DOLLARS  AND  CENTS. 

happened  to  you ;  for  it  always  seemed  to  work  good  and 
not  evil.     The  goodness  of  God  is  so  sure  !  so  unfailing !" 

"  We  have  proved  that,"  Kate  said  with  full  eyes.  "  But 
Mr.  Rodney,  I  should  almost  doubt  your  remembrance  of 
what  Miss  Easy  said, — you  are  looking  so  very  grave." 

"  One  of  the  ameliorating  circumstances  does  not  ap- 
pear quite  enough  for  my  comfort — I  cannot  take  it  upon 
trust." 

"  If.  you  would  only  take  my  advice  and  look  at  the  fire," 
said  Kate,  "  it  would  cheer  you  up  amazingly — the  walls  of 
this  room  are  not  enlivening." 

"  I  certainly  was  not  looking  at  them,"  he  answered,  as 
he  rose  to  greet  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Howard.  And  nothing 
could  have  been  more  beautiful  or  like  himself  than  that 
greeting.  It  was  as  if  his  full  love  and  appreciation  for  us 
had  but  just  then  come  out,  and  our  misfortunes  had  but 
bound  us  together.  My  father  felt  half  saddened  and  half 
cheered. 

"  You  see  we  have  had  autumn  winds  in  here,  Mr.  Rod- 
ney," he  said. 

"  The  buds  that  are  left  are  better  than  the  leaves  which 
have  fallen,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Rodney  with  one  look  of  quick 
sympathy. 

"Yes,"  said  Mr.  Howard — "if  the  next  season  were 
summer  instead  of  winter, — but  I  think  some  of  my  buds 
grow  pale  under  this  frost  work." 

Leaving  Mr.  Howard  to  explain  and  tell  what  he  chose, 
we  began  to  prepare  tea;  and  that  Mr.  Rodney's  eyes 
might  not  be  shocked  with  any  more  dismantled  rooms 
that  night,  the  meal  was  spread  on  that  smallest  and  most 
inconvenient  of  little  tables  in  the  sitting-room ;  its  want  of 
accommodation  eked  out  with  an  extra  chair  or  two.  For 
this  our  friend  had  no  grave  looks, — and  we  laughed  off  the 
inconvenience  and  enjoyed  the  tea  as  much  as  possible. 

Then  when  we  had  again  drawn  round  the  fire  talking 
went  on  briskly  for  a  time,  and  the  flickering  light  made 
our  faces  perhaps  seem  gayer  than  they  were,  but  was  at  all 
events  a  very  hopeful,  cheer-up  sort  of  a  companion.  After 
that  came  a  long,  unbroken  silence. 

"  Papa,"  said  Kate  softly  and  laying  her  hand  on  his 
forehead,  "  have  you  any  idea  where  your  eyebrows  are  ?" 


DOLLARS  AXD   GEXTS.  '  417 

"  Not  the  least,  my  dear — you  have  the  advantage  of 
me." 

"  Couldn't  your  thoughts  come  back  for  a  little  while  1" 
said  my  stepmother.  "  I  think  we  are  in  great  danger  of 
what  you  call  moodiness." 

"  Mr.  Rodney,"  said  my  father  with  a  suddenness  that 
spoke  a  mind  far  away  from  these  last  remarks,  "  I  have 
been  dreaming  of  a  man  who  had  a  precious  jewel  that  he 
wanted  to  give  to  a  friend ;  but  when  the  time  came,  be- 
hold there  was  no  golden  box  wherein  to  put  it !" 

"  And  I  have  been  dreaming  too,  sir,"  said  Mr.  ColHng- 
wood  quickly  ;  "  but  it  was  of  a  jewel  so  precious  that  its 
golden  box  seemed  but  the  lead  that  held  '  Fair  Portia's 
counterfeit.' " 

"  Ah !"  said  my  father  shaking  his  head,  but  smiling  too, 
a  little;  "my  lord  Bassanio  was  a  very  sensible  young 
man  ! — after  he  had  seen  the  portrait." 

"  But  papa,"  I  said  laughing,  "  he  didn't  know  what  was 
in  the  lead  casket  till  he  opened  it." 

"  Quite  sure,  Gracie  ]"  said  my  father  stroking  my  hair. 
"  Well,  my  dear,  I  always  believed  that  Nerissa  gave  him. 
a  hint." 


418  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 


CHAPTER  XLIII 


I  think  if  any  thing  was  to  be  foreseen,  I  have  as  sharp  a  look-out  as  another ; 
and  yet  I  foresee  nothing.— Good-Natured  Man. 

KATE  and  I  had  a  busy  early  morning  of  it.  There  was 
the  sitting-room  to  put  in  order  and  coax  into  comfort- 
able looks,  and  the  fire  to  make ;  and  this  too  in  very  good 
season  before  any  one  else  could  be  up.  Similar  kind 
offices  must  be  performed  for  the  breakfast-room,  which  was, 
however,  much  less  amenable  to  coaxing.  Do  what  we 
would  it  was  but  a  bright  fire,  some  lumber-room  chairs 
(of  which  the  original  striking  colours  were  much  worn 
off) ;  and  the  breakfast-table — standing  on  a  centre-piece 
of  carpet  with  a  broad  border  of  bare  floor.  The  floor  was 
very  white,  and  the  chairs  very  nicely  dusted,  and  the  table 
— we  did  thank  Mr.  Pratt  in  our  hearts  for  supposing  we 
might  have  a  friend  with  us — had  its  old  supply  of  linen, 
china  and  silver,  minus  the  tea-set.  And  yet  it  looked 
very  little  like  our  breakfast^room, — though  that  stream  of 
sunlight  was  certainly  "heartsome,"  as  we  remarked  to 
each  other,  and  fairer  than  had  ever  entered  our  town 
house. 

"  If  one  could  only  get  here  without  coming  through  that 
empty  drawing-room — "  Kate  said. 

"  Never  mind,  this  will  look  all  the  brighter." 

We  left  the  room  to  get  warm  at  its  leisure,  and  went  to 
see  about  breakfast.  Mrs.  Howard  had  preceded  us  in 
this  department,  but  there  were  still  some  light  matters  for 
us  to  do,  while  she  would  do  others  that  she  thought  less 
pleasant.  Tliose  finished  we  took  off  our  aprons  and  pro- 
ceeded to  the  parlour. 

I  suppose  the  quick  work  and  early  rising  in  the  cold 
may  have  made  us  look  pale  or  tired.     Mr.  Rodney's  face 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  419 

said  as  much,  and  Mr.  Howard  with  a  man's  disregard  of 
family  secrets,  exclaimed, 

"  What  in  the  world  have  you  been  about  ]" 

We  gave  him  our  lips  by  way  of  good-morning  and 
answer ;  but  while  I  seated  myself  at  the  corner  of  the  fire 
my  father  held  Kate  fast,  and  repeated  his  question. 

"  What  have  you  been  about  ?" 

"  I  have  been — among  the  flours — just  now,"  said  Kate 
looking  down  and  smothering  a  laugh. 

"  Doing  what  ]" 

"They  wanted  to  be  turned  in  a  new  direction — or  at 
least  they  were  too  aspiring, — I  have  been  reducing  them 
within  proper  limits." 

"  At  this  time  of  day !''  said  my  father. 

"  The  only  time  of  day  when  they  usually  flourish,  sir — 
the  flours  of  an  hour  which  is  popularly  called  breakfast- 
time.  By  some  people  this  species  is  denominated  Muf- 
finaria  Matinensis," 

And  covering  her  face  with  her  hands,  the  laugh  burst 
forth  in  good  earnest.  The  gentlemen  laughed  too, — be- 
cause they  couldn't  help  it. 

"  You  silly  child  !"  said  my  father, — "  what  do  you 
mean  ]  Are  those  the  only  flowers  you  have  been  attend- 
ing to  ?" 

"  Not  quite,  papa, — I  have  managed  to  pick  up  a  little 
heartsease." 

My  father  drew  her  to  him  for  another  kiss,  but  looked 
as  if  he  had  found  less  than  a  little. 

"  What  have  you  done  with  your  '  Mufiinaria'  1" 

"  O  they  are  safe — "  said  Kate  smiling,  though  the  bright 
tears  were  ready  to  fall.  "  I  have  delivered  them  into  the 
delicate  hands  of  'Dency  Barrington, — mamma  insisted 
that  mine  were  too  robust  for  the  purpose." 

"  Where  did  you  find  'Dency  Barrington  V 

"  My  dear  father !"  said  Kate,  "  you  have  certainly 
taken  up — whose  rule  was  it — for  obtaining  information, 
this  morning !  Suppose  I  were  to  give  what  is  called  a 
true  American  answer,  and  inquire  how  you  and  Mr.  Rod- 
ney could  choose  such  a  shadowy  corner  to  stand  in,  this 
bright  day  ?" 

Mr.  Howard  passed  his  hand  once  or  twice  very  fondly 


420  DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS, 

over  her  head,  pushing  the  hair  ofT  her  forehead  and  look- 
ing at  her  in  a  way  that  made  reply  hardly  necessary. 

"I  once  had  a  daughter,"  he  said,  "who  would  not  have 
borne  '  the  loss  of  all  things^  quite  so  cheerfully.  Can  you 
be  the  yqtj  same  child  I  brought  with  me  from  Philadel- 
phia r 

"  As  near  as  possible,  papa ! — Only  my  notions  have  so 
much  sense  about  them  that  they  do  not  venture  out  when 
they  are  sure  to  be  frost-bitten.  You  know  none  but  very 
humble  flowers  dare  shew  their  faces  until  settled  warm 
weather." 

"  iVnd  are  there  no  humble  flowers  for  you  to  copy  but 
snow-drops  1"  said  Mr.  Rodney. 

Kate  laughed,  and  the  snow-drop  was  very  quickly  sup- 
planted. 

"  Why  really,"  she  said,  "  I  did  not  think  of  that  before 
— Grade  does  look  something  like  one,  do^-n  there  in  the 
corner.  But  lilies  are  rather  disconsolate — and  crocuses 
rather  pert, — and  violets  deal  too  exclusively  in  unseen 
influences — I  don't  know  that  there  is  anything  left  for  us 
but  snow-drops." — 

"And  the  rose  a-quatre-saisons" — said  Mr.  Collingwood 
smiling. 

But  as  my  father  remarked,  that  was  hardly  left. 

"  Nobody  answers  my  questions,"  said  Kate,  "  and  I  am 
expected  to  answer  everybody !" 

"I  must  appoint  a  referee,  if  you  have  any  more  to 
ask,"  said  Mr.  Howard, — "  I  am  going  to  my  study.  But 
you  have  the  clue  to  my  shadowy  comer,  my  dear ;  and  I 
daresay  Mr.  Rodney  will  give  you  one  to  his,  if  you  ask 
him.     Perhaps  you  can  succeed  in  guiding  him  out." 

Kate  preferred  another  mode  of  tactics, — choosing  rather 
to  abolish  the  shadows  than  to  find  her  way  through  them 
She  stood  still  for  a  moment  after  Mr.  Howard  had  gone, 
and  then  looking  up  at  the  referee  with  a  gravity  which 
somewhat  impaired  his  own,  she  said. 

"  Did  you  ever  study  botany,  Mr.  Collingwood  ]" 

"  A  little,  Miss  Howard. — Not  so  much  as  some  other 
things." 

"  Never  learned  anything  about  the  growth  and  cultiva- 
tion of  heartsease  ]" 


DOLLARS  AXD  CENTS.  421 

But  she  could  not  raise  her  eyes  again  for  a  minute  after 
his  glance. 

'"Will't  please  you  sit'?  and  give  me  a  lesson  in 
■words]"  Mr.  Rodney  said,  gently  installing  her  in  one  of 
the  easy-chairs,  and  taking  his  stand  at  the  back  of  it. 
"  I  believe  I  know  heartsease  when  I  see  it — what  about 
its  culture  V 

"  Perhaps  you  know  then,"  said  Kate,  her  lips  trembling 
a  little  but  steadying  themselves  by  degrees,  "  that  it  is 
a  particular  little  flower,  and  needs  particular  soil  and  care. 
And  there  are  many  varieties, — some  all  purple,  and  some 
all  gold ;  but  I  think  the  purple-dashed  ones  are  the  pret- 
tiest. Then  too  it  loves  the  shade,  Mr.  Rodney,  and  thrives 
best  there.  If  you  put  one  of  the  fine  ones  in  the  full  light 
of  the  open  ground  it* will  sometimes  lose  its  deep  colour, 
and  the  flowers  will  be  smaller  and  all  yellow — I  think 
them  not  so  fair.  Some  of  the  best  I  have  grow  at  the 
back  of  the  house." 

There  was  a  deep  silence. 

"  Might  one  have  the  benefit  of  your  thoughts  1"  said 
Kate  when  some  ten  minutes  had  passed. 

"  One  might — "  said  Mr.  Collingwood  smiling.  "  They 
were  just  two.  The  first  concerned  the  exceeding  good 
care  I  shall  take  of  all  the  heartsease  that  ever  comes  into 
my  possession — or  guardianship.  The  second  you  may 
call  a  botanical  question — Might  not  this  flower,  in  of  course 
a  diflierent  soil  and  exposure,  bear  a  little  more  of  the  sun- 
shine and  yet  keep  all  its  sweet  fairness?" 

"  1  must  go  and  see  to  my  Muflinaria !"  said  Kate  spring- 
ing from  her  chair.  "  I  am  certain  that  'Dency  is  exposing 
them  to  too  much  heat !" 

"  Gracie !"  said  Mr.  Collingwood  presently,  "  what  are 
you  thinking  of?  will  you  tell  me?" 

"  I  don't  quite  know  myself,  sir,"  I  said  laughing — "  I  was 
just  trying  to  find  out. — My  thoughts  seemed  to  have  got 
tangled." 

He  smiled. 

"Have  you  really  some  of  the  true  English  heartsease? 
or  was  Miss  Kate  talking  entirely  from  imagination  ?" 

"  O  we  have  a  number !  very  fine  ones !" 

"It  is  a  very  lovely  flower!" 


422  DOLLARS  AND   CEXTS. 

"  And  such  a  pretty  name.  But  isn't  it  strange  that  the 
French  name  should  have  so  different  a  meaning  V 

"  Do  you  think  it  is  so  different  Gracie  1  it  does  not  seem 
that  to  me." 

"PenseesT— 

"  No, — thoughts  are  some  of  the  best  heartsease  I  ever 
had." 

'•  To  be  sure — "  I  said,  "  that  is  true  sometimes.  But 
then  to  have  it  true  as  a  rule  one's  thoughts  must  be  in  very 
nice  order  and  regulation." 

"  There  is  no  doubt  about  that,  Gracie.  But  then,  as 
you  say,  I  would  not  give  much  for  the  so-called  heartsease 
which  one's  thoughts  are  at  war  with.  Such  is  not  a  peace 
— it  is  only  a  truce.  There  is  no  way  with  your  thoughts 
but  to  make  friends  of  them, — then  they  will  fight  for  you 
against  the  world !" 

"If  anybody  is  curious  on  the  subject  of  Muffinaria," 
said  Kate  opening  the  door,  "  they  are  at  present  ready  for 
inspection." 

She  made  a  very  bright  connecting  link  between  the 
room  we  left  and  the  room  we  were  going  to,  and  I  half 
hoped  that  Mr.  Collingwood  might  notice  nothing  else  on 
the  way ;  but  though  I  could  not  see  that  he  looked  about 
him,  I  yet  felt  sure  that  his  eye  sought  one  or  two  familiar 
places  to  find  whether  tHey  were  filled  or  empty.  Kate 
and  I  both  read  it  in  his  face  when  we  first  sat  down  to 
breakfast ;  but  either  other  influences  wore  that  off,  or  Mr. 
Collingwood  thought  there  was  enough  thoughtfulness  afloat 
without  his,  for  there  was  no  appearance  of  it  afterwards. 

A  part  of  that  day  was  spent  in  a  long  walk  ;  from  which 
we  returned  to  find  Mr.  Carvill  managing  his  steed  and  his 
impatience  at  our  door.  Or  rather  our  eyes  found  him 
there ;  for  before  our  feet  could  get  so  far  Mr.  Carvill  had 
espied  us,  and  in  the  next  minute  he  was  directly  in  our 
path  and  with  no  apparent  intention  of  getting  out  of  it. 

"  Hope  I  see  you  well,  young  ladies"  he  said,  uncovering, 
— "  hardly  needful  to  ask — only  you  might  not  know  so 
well  as  I  that  your  faces  are  in  very  partial  concealment." 

"Then  it  is  quite  unnecessary  for  me  to  ask  you  any 
questions,"  said  ^Ir.  Rodney  smiling. 

"  Good  morning  !"  said  Mr.  Carvill,  as  if  but  just  aware 


DOLLARS  AXD  CEXTS.  423 

of  his  brother's  presence,  and  then  bringing  back  his  atten- 
tion to  us.  "  I  made  so  bold  as  to  ride  over  after  Mr. 
Collingwood  this  morning  young  ladies,  because  I  was 
morally  sure  he  wouldn't  come  if  I  didn't." 

"  Morally  sure  I  wouldn't  keep  my  promise  1"  said  Mr. 
Rodney. 

"  'II  fait  toujours  bon  tenir  son  cheval  par  la  bride'  " — 
said  the  gentleman  shrugging  his  shoulders, — "and  Mrs. 
Carvill  had  set  down  her  foot  that  you  must  come — so  I 
put  mine  in  the  stirrup  to  make  certain, — not  thinking  it 
safe  to  trust  even  your  sense  of  duty.  What  do  you  say 
Miss  Howard  1" 

"  About  what,  sir  1" 

"  Why — Stand  still !"  said  Mr.  Carvill,  as  his  horse  after 
one  or  two  bridlings  of  the  head  took  a  sudden  wheel, 
and  was  with  some  difficulty  brought  up  to  face  us  again — 
for  which  he  was  rewarded  with  a  touch  of  Mr.  Carvill's 
spurs  and  gave  an  eccentric  spring  in  consequence. — "No 
occasion  to  be  frightened  Miss  Kate — if  I  run  over  anybody 
it  won't  be  you — I  believe  there  is  a  contingent  barrier 
somewhere. — But  you  see  the  advantage  of  this  little  ma- 
noeuvre is,  that  when  I  come  round  again  you  strike  me 
"with  all  the  force  of  novelty." 

"  It  would  strike  me  with  all  the  force  of  novelty  if  you 
would  come  straight  to  the  point,  and  tell  what  you  are 
after,"  said  Mr.  Rodney. 

"  I'll  be  after  telling  you  presently  sir,"  said  Mr.  Carvill 
politely.  "  Do  you  think  now  Miss  Kate  that  anybody — 
that  is  to  say  Mrs.  Howard  of  course — would  object  to  Mr. 
Collingwood's  dining  at  the  Lea  to-day  1  Mrs.  Carvill  is 
very  anxious — and  as  I  shall  not  see  him  again  till  the 
winter  you  can  probably  imagine  my  feelings — but — this 
creature  is   certainly   possessed  with  the  spirit  of  whir- 

ligig!" 

"  If  you  had  only  taken  the  trouble  to  go  in  and  see 
mamma,  sir,"  said  Kate,  "  she  could  have  saved  so  severe  a 
trial  of  his  patience,  and  satisfied  you  at  once." 

"  Do  him  good  to  have  his  patience  tried  !"  said  Mr.  Car- 
vill. "  I  am  extremely  sorry  Miss  Kate  to  have  frightened 
you  into  anything  like  paleness — I  shall  not  soon  forget  it, 
— but  so  far  as  I  am  concerned  this  interview  has  been  per- 


424  DOLLARS  AND  CEITTS. 

fectly  satisfactory  and  well  worth  waiting  for. — My  mind  13 
quite  at  rest — wish  my  horse  was !" 

"  They  will  be  in  some  danger  of  growing  pale  if  you 
keep  them  standing  here  much  longer,"  said  Mr.  Rodney, 
laughing  in  spite  of  himself  at  tjie  extreme  demureness  with 
which  this  was  spoken.  "  Let  Necker  take  you  out  of  our 
way  and  home  as  fast  as  he  is  inclined  to, — I  shall  not  fail 
of  my  word." 

"  What  surety  ? — you  engaged  in  some  interesting  con- 
versation— Miss  Howard  suddenly  says  '  Oh  !' — whereupon 
you  inquire,  and  find  that  it  is  nine  o'clock.  Meantime  I 
have  spent  the  evening  over  the  Edinburgh  Encyclopedia — 
article  '  Social  exchanges' — and  can  make  nothing  of  it." 

"  It  is  not  anywhere  near  your  dinner-hour  yet,"  said  Mr. 
Collingwood  gravely, — "  your  watch  must  be  too  fast." 

"  My  watch  is  perfect,  Mr.  Cbllingwood.  So  is  my  fore- 
sight.    What  time  do  you  go  in  the  morning'?" 

"Nine  o'clock,  Mr.  Carvill." 

"  Very  good ;  and  as  I  once  had  the  pleasure  of  telling 
these  young  ladies — on  an  occasion  which  I  would  not  for 
the  world  recall  to  their  recollection — I  really  have  some 
affection  for  my  absent  brother." 

Mr.  Rodney  smiled,  but  then  stepping  up  to  Necker  and 
resting  one  hand  on  his  shoulder,  he  said, 

"  What  do  you  want  with  me  Carvill  ? — say  quickly." 

"  Better  stand  off,"  said  Mr.  Carvill, — "  if  you  get  run 
over  I  won't  answer  for  the  consequences.  What  do  I 
want  1 — this  same  absent  brother  of  mine." 

"  But  you  will  have  him  at  dinner." 

"  See  a  polite  shadow  at  the  far  end  of  the  table — that's 
all.  Therefore,  to  come  to  the  point  at  once,  it  has  occurred 
to  me — that  as  the  said  dinner  will  not  be  served  but  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  duskiness  and  atmosphere  of  wax-lights, 
you  had  better  give  me  a  little  of  your  time  beforehand, — 
as  otherwise  you  might  be  detained  till  '  the  witching  hour 
of  night.'  In  which  case  you  might  fall  in  with  some  hocus- 
pocus,  and  not  reach  Glen  Luna  any  more.  Which  would 
— to  say  the  least — be  a  catastrophe."  * 

"  I  will  come  immediately,"  said  Mr.  Rodney  smiling. 

"  Have  a  care  then  ! — '  Otez-vous !'  as  my  wife  says  to 
the  fag-end  of  her  patience." — 


DOLLARS  AND   CEXTS.  425 

And  reining  back  his  horse  to  give  full  effect  to  his  sud- 
den dash  forward,  Mr.  Carvill  bowed  low  and  went  off. 

"  Must  you  go  to-morrow,  Mr.  Rodney  V  I  said  as  we 
walked  on  to  the  house. 

"  I  must  indeed — absolutely." 

"  This  is  but  a  tiny  visit,"  said  Kate. 

"I  trust  the  absence  which  follows  it  will  be  short  in 
proportion." 

"  You  were  talking  to  Mr.  Suydam  about  February — 
will  you  be  here  then  ?"  I  said. 

"  Hardly  so  soon  as  that,  Gracie,  I  fear." 

"  But  you  will  come  as  soon  as  you  can?  you  will  not 
let  Mr.  Carvill  keep  you  in  to\vii  1" 

"  I  shall  not  let  Mr.  Carvill  nor  any  one  else  keep  me  a 
moment  longer  than  I  can  help." 

"  Ah !"  I  said,  "  you  do  not  know  how  few  friends  we 
have  in  this  region,  or  you  would  not  laugh  at  me  for  ask- 
ing such  a  question." 

"  I  think  that  could  only  be  called  a  smile,  Gracie.  But 
I  do  know  how  few  friends  I  have — anywhere — that  are 
just  what  I  mean  by  the  word.  Keep  back  Wolfgang — 
you  must  not  come  in." 

Wolfgang  wagged  his  tail,  and  looked  at  Kate. 

*'  Is  my  authority  transferred  V  said  Mr.  Rodney  with  a 
laughing  appeal  in  the  same  direction.  "  Because  in  that 
case,  Wolfgang's  mistress  will  please  to  issue  her  orders." 

We  laughed  too  at  the  dog's  comical  look,  and  upon  the 
strength  of  that  he  insinuatingly  pushed  himself  in. 

"  It  is  the  funniest  thing !"  I  said.  "  He  will  do  anything 
she  tells  him  to,  and  will  mind  none  of  the  rest  of  us  if 
Kate  is  by." 

"  He  is  a  remarkably  sensible  dog — "  said  his  master,— 
"  probably  he  has  private  reasons  which  he  never  told  you, 
Gracie." 

"  I  think  he  will  be  almost  as  sorry  to  part  with  Kate  as 
she  will  be  to  part  with  him,  Mr.  Rodney." 

"  And  I  think  1  should  be  the  most  sorry  of  the  three." — 

"  Why  ?" 

"  Why  ? — Don't  you  suppose  1  have  a  sufficient  regard 
for  the  two  parties  in  question  to  be  unwUling  to  displease 
themr' 


426  DOLLARS  AND  CUNTS. 

"  But  you  said  the  most  sorry — " 

"  O  you  have  no  idea  of  the  extent  to  which  I  carry  my 
sympathy  with  Wolfgang !"  said  Mr.  Collingwood  laugh- 
ing as  he  left  the  room. 

"How  much  remains  of  that  copying?"  said  Kate. 
*'  Could  we  finish  it  to-day  1" 

"  Easily — and  maybe  Mr.  Rodney  would  take  the  papers 
for  us." 

"  That  is  what  I  was  thinking  of.  But  don't  get  them 
out  just  now,  dear.  Do  you  know  next  week  papa  is 
going  to  look  over  our  old  possessions,  and  see  which  of 
them  we  are  entitled  tol" 

"  I  didn't  know  w^e  were  entitled  to  any." 

"  They  are  stored  at  Wiamee  you  know,  and  papa  says 
the  receiver  took  some  which  the  law  allows  everybody 
— fifty  dollars  worth  of  books  and  so  on.  It  would  be 
something  to  have  even  that." 

"  Yes — something.  But  why  mayn't  I  begin  to  copy  *? 
it  will  soon  be  dark." 

"  Have  those  papers  just  been  waiting  for  me  V  said 
Mr.  Rodney  as  he  came  in  again.  "  I  did  not  know  but 
they  were  done." 

Kate  smiled. 

"  Does  North  Morris  lie  in  your  way  to  Rutland,  Mr. 
Rodney  ]" 

"  I  go  directly  through  it.     Have  you  any  commands  V 

"  Only  this  same  bundle  of  papers — it  is  rather  too  large 
to  send  from  here  through  the  post-office.  Would  it  give 
you  much  trouble  to  take  charge  of  if?" 

"  None  in  the  world — if  you  will  give  them  to  me  just 
as  they  are." 

"  We  will  give  them  to  you  nicely  done  up  and  sealed, 
that  none  of  them  may  get  lost,"  said  Kate. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  while  I  am  away  this  after- 
noon ?" 

"Now  Mr.  Rodney,"  she  said,  answering  his  look  with 
a  most  fair  one,  "please  do  not  ask  any  questions, — see 
how  long  the  shadows  are — it  is  quite  time  for  you  to  go. 
And  if  you  wear  such  a  grave  face  at  the  Lea,  Mr.  Carvill 
will  think  witchcraft  is  abroad  in  the  day-time." 

"  He  would  come  near  the  truth  for  once,"  said  Mr.  Col- 


DOLLARS  AND   CENTS.  427 

lingwood.  "  I  strongly  suspect  some  conjuration  to  keep 
me  here,  for  I  feel  a  singular  dislike  to  going  away.  Gracie, 
don't  send  out  any  of  your  familiars  to  hinder  my  coming 
back." 

"  O  no,"  I  said  laughing, — "  we  shall  wait  tea  for  you, 
sir." 

We  finished  our  copying,  and  then  sat  waiting  in  the 
twilight,  and  talking  of  what  things  we  were  to  have  per 
favour  of  the  statute. 

"  Papa,"  I  said,  as  a  sudden  recollection  came  over  me, 
"  I  want  to  ask  you  now  while  I  have  a  chance — what  did 
you  mean  last  night  when  you  were  talking  about  gold 
boxes  and  jewels  ? — I  asked  Kate  but  she  didn't  seem  to 
understand  it  any  better  than  I  did.  Was  that  a  real  dream 
of  yours  ]" 

"  There  was  as  much  reality  about  it  as  there  is  about 
^lost  dreams,  my  dear." 

"  But  what  made  you  bring  it  up  %  what  had  it  to  do  with 
what  we  were  talking  of?" 

"  We  were  not  talking  of  anything  just  then  Gracie,  if 
you  remember,"  said  Mr.  Howard  looking  down  at  me  from 
his  stand  before  the  fire. 

But  he  saw  that  I  looked  puzzled ;  and  coming  nearer 
and  taking  my  hand  in  both  of  his,  he  said  with  a  smile, 

"  It  wouldn't  be  very  strange  my  dear  if  after  all  our 
losses  I  should  dream  of  gold  and  jewels." 

"  No  papa — but  then  you  were  talking — I  don't  know,  I 
suppose  I  am  stupid." 

"Not  a  bit  of  it; — but  older  heads  than  yours,  Gracie, 
have  failed  to  follow  out  another  person's  train  of  thought. 
I  was  thinking  of  the  want  of  what  I  once  had ;  and  Mr. 
Rodney  with  most  discriminating  kindness,  reminded  me 
that  what  I  have  left  is  far  more  precious  than  anything 
Mr.  McLoon  could  take  away.  Do  you  understand 
that  ?" 

"  Perfectly,  papa ;  it  has  been  such  a  pleasant  thought 
in  all  these  troubles  that  nobody  could  touch  any  of  us. 
And  that  was  how  you  came  to  talk  about  Portia  ?" — 

"  That  was  how  we  came  to  talk  about  Portia,  in  her 
leaden  casket, — much  better  worth  having  you  see,  Gracie, 
than  the  fool's  head  in  the  silver  one.     So  you  perceive 


428  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

that  if  I  had  plenty  of  raoney  and  half  a  dozen  silly  chil- 
dren, I  should  be  a  poorer  man  than  I  am  now  with  only 
you  and  Kate." 

"  That  might  be,  in  more  ways  than  one,"  said  I  laugh- 
ing. "  Ah  papa !  they  w^ould  be  poorer  children  too — un- 
less one  of  them  was  Kate." 

"  And  another  one  Grace,"  said  my  father  kissing  me. 
"  Come  over  here  and  sit  down  on  my  lap.  You  would  be 
a  treasure  of  a  daughter,  my  dear,  to  those  people  who  like 
to  have  always  a  baby  in  the  house.  A§  for  me,  I  am  sad- 
ly afraid  you  will  never  grow  up." 

"  I  am  sadly  afraid  you  don't  want  me  to,  papa,"  I  said 
laying  my  head  down  on  his  shoulder.  "  But  how  can  one 
grow  up  unless  one  lives  among  other  people? — I  haven't 
any  idea  how  old  I  am  or  ought  to  be." 

"1  said  true,"  remarked  Mr.  Howard  after  a  pause, 
"  when  I  once  called  all  these  things  trifles.  How  gently 
we  have  been  dealt  with ! — even  as  regards  this  world  it  is 
only  the  least  precious  things  we  have  lost ;  and  the  most 
precious — each  other's  love  and  sympathy  and  one-minded- 
ness — are  all  left,  all  increased ;  and  stand  out  in  a  full 
relief  they  could  scarce  otherwise  have  had." 

"And  we  have  learned  to  put  a  truer  estimate  upon 
things,"  said  Mrs.  Howard. 

"  Much  truer;  my  dear — ^having  pretty  reasonable  eyes 
to  begin  with, — at  least  some  of  us.  Certainly  if  poverty 
is  not  your  niche,  you  have  the  power  of  filling  more  than 
one." 

"  Don't  you  think  every  true  woman  has  that,  papa  ?" 
said  Kate. 

"Every  true  woman  Kate,  carries  about  with  her  a 
sort  of  india-rubber  framework  that  fits  itself  to  any  niche 
where  she  may  be  placed  ;  but  at  the  same  time  one  niche 
is  better  adapted  to  her  than  another.  As  one  woman 
needs  the  drapery  of  wealth  and  circumstance ;  while 
another  takes  all  the  adorning  upon  herself,  and  makes  you 
forget  to  look  at  her  niche." 

"  And  don't  men  have  the  power  of  adaptation  too  f* 
said  Mrs.  Howard  smiling.  "  My  memory  would  rather 
say  yes." 

"  Sometimes — "  said   my  father, — "  but  they  are  more 


DOLLARS  AND  CENTS.  429 

angular  and  unmanageable,  and  not  always  content  with 
their  niche  when  they  get  it.  Therefore  they  stick  them- 
selves into  some  other — a  fact  which  everybody  finds  out 
but  themselves. 

"  Here  comes  Mr.  Rodney  and  now  let  us  have  tea." 


430  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 


CHAPTEK  XLIY. 


Seek  not  proud  riches,  but  such  as  thou  may'st  get  justly,  use  soberly,  distrib- 
ute cheerfully,  and  leave  contentedly ;  yet  have  no  abstract  nor  friarly  contempt 
of  them. — Bacon. 


TO  refurnish  our  house  became  now  an  object  of  effort  as 
well  as  of  desire.  Those  bare  rooms  looked  very  dreary 
in  the  cool  weather,  and  to  see  my  father's  study  supplied 
with  but  a  pine  table  and  a  wooden  stool,  was  more  than  a 
match  for  our  equanimity.  There  was  no  question  as  to  the 
propriety  of  making  ourselves  more  comfortable ; — the  dif- 
ficulty was  to  find  the  means.  The  bags  of  dollars  we  had 
once  possessed  lay  about  us  to  be  sure,  but  as  fast  bound 
up  in  granite  and  mortar  as  the  brothers  of  the  princess, — • 
only  she  did  not  know  what  the  little  black  stones  were, 
while  the  materials  of  our  roads  and  cottages  needed  no 
explanation.  If  we  ever  got  safe  up  the  hill  we  might  in- 
deed disenchant  them — those  that  were  left ;  but  many  of 
our  improvements  had  passed  into  Mr.  McLoon's  hands, 
and  for  all  present  power  of  doing  us  good  the  rest  might 
as  well  have  been  there  too. 

We  decided  to  buy  nothing  for  the  present,  unless  we 
could  with  one  or  two  cattle  and  some  other  things  which 
had  escaped  the  levy  get  back  a  few  pieces  of  our  old  fur- 
niture, a  few  more  of  our  favourite  books  than  the  statute 
allowance  would  cover,  and  a  small  addition  to  our  present 
stock  of  plate. 

Again  we  went  over  the  list  to  make  our  choice,  and  Mr. 
Howard  was  half  inclined  to  merge  the  whole  number  of 
books  and  necessary  articles  in  an  attempt  to  get  back  the 
harp.  But  Kate  would  not  hear  of  it,  and  even  Mrs.  How- 
ard and  I  could  not  say  that  it  would  be  wise,  or  that  we 
could  not  better  live  without  music  than  without  tables  and 


DOLLARS  AND   CENTS.  431 

chairs  and  carpets.  Some  of  these  which  were  not  very- 
handsome  we  thought  would  cost  less  than  new  ones,  and 
large  spoons  and  forks  were  desirable !  But  for  all  these 
we  must  wait  for  Mr.  Pratt  who  was  not  forthcoming ;  and 
as  the  sheriff  would  not  take  the  responsibility  of  giving 
us  even  the  statute  allowances,  my  father's  visit  to  Wiamee 
was  constantly  postponed. 

Meanwhile  we  tried  what  could  be  done  without  money, 
— with  only  draughts  upon  our  strength  and  time.  And 
yet  there  was  pleasure  in  it,  too, — strange  as  it  may  seem ; 
but  a  sinking  cloud  is  far  less  dark  than  a  rising  one;  and 
we  had  so  long  felt  as  if  some  possibility  hung  over  our 
heads,  that  the  removal  of  it  became  a  relief.  Even  though 
it  left  our  house  empty. — 

Then  there  was  really  pleasure  in  filling  up  the  emptiness, 
— in  making  the  rooms  at  least  habitable ;  in  setting  off 
what  we  had  to  the  best  advantage.  Contriving  became  a 
matter  of  amusement  as  well  as  of  study.  Old  pieces  of 
furniture  that  had  lain  for  years  in  the  lumber-room,  being 
new  varnished  and  rubbed  up  made  quite  a  respectable 
appearance — now  that  they  were  no  longer  contrasted  with 
ebony  and  satin-wood ;  and  our  few  shells  which  had  been 
quite  outshone  by  more  precious  specimens,  were  now  ap- 
preciated. Not  by  my  father, — he  rather  shook  his  head 
at  them ;  or  indeed  at  anything  that  had  but  a  pine  table 
and  cotton  cloth  to  stand  upon.  But  in  general  what  had 
been  slighted  by  the  Howards  in  their  golden  dream,  was 
thankfully  made  use  of  by  the  Howards  in  the  mere  leaden 
grey  of  the  morning.  And  as  everything  looked  better 
than  we  expected,  we  perhaps  thought  everything  looked 
better  than  it  really  did. 

So  in  a  while  we  were  quietly  settled  again ;  save  that 
my  stepmother  said  she  should  not  feel  quite  at  home  until 
the  house  had  had  a  thorough  cleaning ;  but  that  could  not 
be  done  in  November. 

Yes,  we  were  very  quiet !  Mind  and  body  had  both  been 
wearied,  and  now  that  excitement  was  over,  a  stranger 
might  have  thought  us  downhearted, — yet  we  were  not  that 
— we  were  only  quiet.  Garden  work  was  past,  and  we 
took  long  walks  in  the  leafless  woods  to  rest  ourselves  from 
copying ;  but'  they  were  very  sedate  walks,  and  Wolfgang 


432  DOLLARS  AND  CENTS. 

would  sometimes  look  wistfully  back  at  us  as  if  wondering 
what  had  become  of  our  old  quick  steps  and  laughing  voices. 
Then  at  some  word  from  us  he  would  come  up  to  be  patted, 
and  for  five  minutes  walk  very  gravely  by  Kate ;  until  the 
discipline  of  circumstances  became  too  irksome,  and  he 
dashed  off  by  himself  seeing  that  no  one  would  go  with 
him.  It  was  lovely  walking  there — with  no  soimd  but  the 
rustle  of  the  dry  leaves,  or  the  chirp  of  some  lingering  bird, 
— "  pure,  peaceful !"  as  Mr.  Rodney  had  said.  And  when 
we  felt  less  bright  than  usual  we  went  to  the  Bird's  Nest, 
to  think  of  the  soothing  presence  we  might  no  longer  see. 
At  last  Mr.  Pratt  came,  and  my  father  received  notice 
that  on  such  a  day  he  might  have  a  meeting  with  him  at 
Wiamee. 

Kate  had  gone  upstairs  and  the  rest  of  us  were  in  the 
sitting-room,  when  Mr.  Harrington,  finding  no  one  in  the 
kitchen  to  answer  his  summons,  came  round  and  tried  the 
front  door. 

"  Here's  some  sort  of  a  concern  for  you,  Squire,"  he  said 
— "  leastways  for  Miss  Kate.  It's  just  as  good  to  know 
where  a  thing  belongs — and  it's  hern  now,  and  no  mis- 
take !" 

"Something  for  Kate  1" — I  exclaimed.  "What  in  the 
world  is  it  f 

"  'Tain't  much  out  o'  the  world — "  said  Ezra, — "  Glen 
Lunay's  seen  it  afore,  any  way.  It  had  three  gold  feet  to 
run  away  upon,  though  it  ha'n't  got  only  two  to  come  back  ; 
but  t'other  one  ain't  broke — it's  only  come  out  like.  If 
the  Squire'd  bear  a  hand  I  guess  I  could  fetch  it  in  all  the 
easier," 

My  father  stayed  not  to  ask  further  questions  but  followed 
Ezra  to  his  cart,  whence  they  presently  brought  in  the  only 
thing  that  short  description  suited,  and  the  only  thing  I 
thought  it  could  not  be — Kate's  harp. 

Such  a  storm  of  exclamations  and  inquiries !  Mr.  Har- 
rington felt  overwhelmed,  and  prudently  refrained  from 
answering  anybody  till  all  were  silent. 

"  Well,"  he  said  then,  "  this  is  just  how  it  is.  I  was  up 
to  Wiamee,  and  that  feller  that  takes  sich  safe  care  o'  your 
goods  Squire,  he  hollers  out  to  me  and  says.he's  got  sun'- 
thin'  as  belongs  down  here.     So  I  said  I  knowed  that  long 


DOLLARS  ASB   CJ^XTS.  433 

ago — a  good  many  of  'em.  Well  says  he  I'm  a  goin'  to 
keep  the  rest,  but  this  here  jignm — some  sort  o' music  they 
call  it — has  got  to  be  sent  to  the  Glen  by  a  safe  hand,  and 
I  guess  yourn's  about  as  safe  as  another.  So  I  telled  him  I 
thought  likely,  and  he  had  it  fetched  out  and  put  into  the 
cart.  And  I  missed  all  the  stones  comin'  down  as  if  it  had 
been  a  baby — I  guess  it  ha'n't  took  no  harm." 

It  did  not  seem  to  have  taken  the  least.  The  missing 
foot  was  soon  screwed  in,  and  we  were  prodigal  of  our 
thanks  to  the  careful  driver. 

"  But  where  did  it  come  from  !"  I  repeated  for  the  twen- 
tieth time. 

"  Why  I  just  telled  ye*' — said  Ezra. 

"  I  mean  who  sent  it  ? — Didn't  that  man  tell  you  any- 
thing more  about  it  V 

"  Pie  didn't  tell  me  anylhin'  at  all — "  said  ISIr.  Barring- 
ton.  "  lie  just  said  it  had  been  waitin'  quite  a  spell  for 
t'other  chap  to  come  and  say  whether  he'd  make  up  his  in- 
clinations to  part  with  it,  and  then  I  come  off." 

'•  You  are  quite  sure  you  were  told  to  bring  it  here  ?'* 
said  my  father. 

"  I  don't  know  !"  said  Ezra  in  desperation, — "  I  haven't 
any  idee  what  it  takes  to  make  a  man  sure !  But  it's  writ 
on  it  'Miss  Howard'  as  plain  as  that  feller  could  spell — 
which  ain't  sayin  a  great  deal — and  I  was  telled  a  matter  o' 
six  times  besides.  I  guess  it's  got  to  the  wrong  place! — 
but  I  kint  take  it  away  !" 

"We  were  left  to  our  own  cogitations,  and  to  examine  and 
carefully  dust  off  this  most  welcome  arrival.  In  all  this 
time  Kate  had  not  come  down  ;  and  I  did  not  call  her  yet, 
that  she  might  have  the  full  surprise  of  seeing  her  harp  in 
perfect  order  and  in  open  view  when  she  entered  the  room. 
We  took  off  all  its  wrappings,  placed  it  just  to  our  satis- 
faction, and  then  stood  to  \\\atch  the  door  as  Kate  came 
singing  down  stairs.  The  knob  was  turned  and  she  came 
in. 

Her  eye  saw  the  hnrp  at  once,  and  she  stopped  short  with 
such  a  bright  flush  of  pleasure  as  did  us  all  good  to  see. 
But  the  next  look  was  rather  sorrowful,  and  she  came  for- 
w^'\rd  saying, 

*'  My  dear  papa !  how  cpuld  you  !" 

19 


434  DOLLARS  AND  CENTS. 

"  How  could  I  what  ?" 

"Why  dlJn't  you  get  your  desk  1  or  a  great  many  other 
things  instead?"  she  continued,  but  giving  her  old  favourite 
many  kind  looks  and  touches  the  while.  "  O  papa — you 
should  not  have  done  this !     J  am  very  sorry  !" 

"  I  am  afraid  the  person  who  redeemed  it  thought  more 
of  you  than  of  nie  Katie ;  in  which  1  am  sure  I  agree  with 
him.     I  am  very  glad." 

"You  should  not  have  done  it!"  she  repeated  gently — 
"  it  was  not  quite  right :  there  were  so  many  other  things 
wanted !" 

"  See  here" — said  my  father  laughing,  "  I  can't  submit  to 
be  bhxmed  for  another  person's  misdeeds — keep  your  re- 
proofs till  you  get  hold  of  the  delinquent.  I  had  nothing  to 
do  with  bringing  this  home." 

"  Nothing  to  do  with  it  %  but  you  ordered  it  brought." — 

"  No  I  didn't." 

"He  doesn't  know  anything  about  it!"  I  said.  "That 
man  at  Wiamee  gave  it  to  Ezra  to  bring  down  here,  and 
nobody  can  tell  who  sent  it." 

"  Papa  knows  nothing  about  it !"  said  Kate  raising  her 
head  and  looking  at  us  all  by  turns.  "  Why  what  do  you 
mean  f 

Mrs.  Howard  and  I  laughed  for  very  pleasure,  and  my 
father  replied, 

"  We  mean  that,  Katie, — I  had  nothing  to  do  with  it." 

"  But  you  know  how  it  came  to  be  sent  ?" 

"  No  better  than  you  do — "  said  Mr.  Howard  smiling. 
"  I  was  as  much  surprised  as  you  are— for  a  few  minutes." 

"  O  papa !"  I  said, — "only  for  a  few  minutes !  I  think  it 
is  the  strangest  thing  I  ever  heard  of." 

"  I  don't  wonder,"  said  my  father ;  "  but  you  know 
Gracie  even  surprise  cannot  last  always.  Come  my  daugh- 
ter— you  need  not  give  your  harp  so  very  close  an  inspec- 
tion,— I  know  it  is  in  order.  Look  up  and  tell  me  you  are 
as  glad  for  yourself  as  I  am  for  you." 

"  Aren't  you  glad  Katie '?"  I  said.  "  We  were  all  de- 
lighted." 

"  My  dear  Gracie,  my  thoughts  are  absolutely  in  confu- 
sion !     Where  is  the  key  1     Have  you  seen  it  ?" 

"  I  see  it  ^ow,"  said  Mr,  Howard, — ^'  it  is  fast  at  the  top 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  435 

to  that  piece  of  ribbon — the  very  one  it  used  to  have,  isn't 
it  1  But  it  is  tied  in  some  impracticable  true-lover's-knot 
apparently, — much  easier  to  tie  than  to  untie" — he  said  as 
he  watched  her  fingers.  "Here  Katie — let  me  cut  it  for 
you." 

"  It  is  unfastened  now,  papa." 

"  Then  sit  down  and  sing  for  me.  will  you  love?"  he  said 
bending  down  to  kiss  her. 

But  she  turned  quick  away,  and  ran  off. 

*'  She  does  not  seem  half  so  glad  as  I  thought  she  would 
be !"  said  I  in  rather  sorrowful  surprise. 

"  She  is  glad  enough" — said  Mr.  Howard.  "  Did  you 
never  hear  of  such  a  thing  as  being  a  little  too  glad, 
Gracie  f ' 

"O  yes.     But  papa,  who  could  possibly  have  sent  it?" 

"  I  shouldn't  like  to  have  to  give  an  answer  to  that  ques- 
tion." 

"  And  you  won't  even  try  to  guess,  papa  V 

"  It  would  hardly  be  worth  my  while,"  said  my  father. 
"  You  may  as  well  let  your  curiosity  die  a  natural  death, 
as  mine  has,  Gracie.  Look  at  the  harp,  and  be  content; 
with  that." 

I  was  very  content  with  that,  but  my  curiosity  had  more 
than  one  life.  If  it  ever  faded  amid  the  keen  pleasure  of 
hearing  Kate  play,  of  seeing  her  pleasure,  of  sitting  in  the 
twilight  as  we  had  so  often  done,  to  hear  the  old  favourite 
songs  with  which  we  had  such  loved  associations  ;  it  revived 
in  double  force  afterwards  ;  and  the  very  strong  love  and 
thankfulness  that  I  had  for  somebody,  went  on  increasing 
at  the  rate  of  compound  interest  because  the  principal  could 
not  be  paid.  Kate  seldom  mentioned  the  subject ;  but,  as 
I  remarked,  she  spent  all  her  thanks  for  the  harp  in  her  fre- 
quent and  happy  use  of  it.  When  she  was  tired,  when  she 
had  a  spare  five  minutes,  above  all  if  she  felt  sad,  this  was 
the  favourite  rest  and  amusement ;  and  none  of  us  had  re- 
alized the  comfort  we  had  lost  till  it  came  back  again.  The 
house  seemed  to  be  furnished  now,  and  within  sound  of 
those  sweet  strings  we  looked  upon  bare  walls  and  floors 
"with  indifference. 

In  a  few  days  we  had  back  from  Wiamee  the  articles  we 
had  redeemed  and  that  were  allowed  us  j  and  having  dis- 


436  DOLLARS  AXD   CEJSTS. 

posed  them  to  the  best  advantage,  we  were  established  for 
the  season. 

Mr.  Howard  had  followed  out  his  intention  of  getting 
business  as  an  engineer,  or  rather  of  trying — for  there 
were  other  applicants  in  plenty.  Some  little  he  did  get, 
but  to  live  on  with  no  more  prospect  or  certainty  than 
that  furnished  would  hardly  do  beyond  the  winter.  It 
was  now  January  ;  when  one  morning  Squire  Suydam  and 
two  strange  gentlemen  jingled  up  to  the  door,  and  re- 
quested to  see  my  father  on  business.  Partly  because 
the  sitting-room  was  thus  taken  up,  partly  because  the 
coming  of  strangers  had  made  us  a  little  nervous,  Kate  and 
I  went  out  to  walk ;  and,  as  we  often  did  when  our  spirits 
wanted  composing,  we  took  our  way  to  one  of  the  many 
little  brown  huts  that  spotted  the  beautiful  country  in  sum- 
mer. Now,  they  were  but  slight  elevations  in  the  snow ; 
often  half  concealed  by  some  deep  drift,  and  always  with 
a  snow  thatch  that  hung  over  as  if  to  shake  hands  with  the 
snow  beneath,  and  made  the  show  of  walls  very  tiny.  Last 
night's  white  deposite  lay  unmelted  upon  several  old  bun- 
dles that  did  duty  as  window-panes  ;  while  some  had  been 
withdrawn,  probably  to  do  duty  after  a  more  legitimate 
fashion.  But  the  open  spaces  looked  very,  very  cheerless, 
seen  as  they  were  through  the  clouds  of  light  snow  which 
the  wind  carried  about,  and  giving  as  they  must  free  pas- 
sage to  both  wind  and  snow. 

We  passed  several  of  these  dwellings,  of  which  the  style 
bore  too  divided  a  resemblance  to  the  abodes  of  men  and 
of  pigs  to  leave  any  doubt  as  to  what  class  of  the  former 
lived  in  them  ;  and  the  one  to  which  our  steps  were  now 
turned  was  but  little  better  than  the  rest.  There  was  more 
appearance  of  glazing,  but  the  chimney  was  but  two  bar- 
rels standing  one  on  top  of  the  other  at  the  end  of  the 
shanty ;  and  the  amount  of  old  rags  and  rubbish  which  the 
snow  covered  up  about  the  door  we  knew  from  former  ex- 
perience. Even  now  a  shred  of  dirty  blue  or  flaunting 
red  stuck  out  here  and  there — thrown  down  after  the  storm 
began  or  uprooted  by  the  noses  of  the  pigs;  and  such 
snow  ! — it  was  all  in  keeping. 

The  mistress  of  the  shanty  was  just  preparing  to  make 
bread,  for  a  large  pan  of  mixed  wheat  and  Indian  flour 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  437 

stood  on  the  table,  flanked  by  a  cup  of  most  singular- 
looking  salt.  To  accommodate  these,  one  corner  of  the 
table-cloth  was  turned  up,  and  disclosed  the  table  boards 
as  they  came  from,  but  hardly  from  lender,  the  carpenter's 
plane.  For  the  cloth  of  thin  cotton  shirting  had  been 
already  laid  for  dinner,  and  that  the  viands  were  getting 
ready  we  needed  no  further  evidence  than  the  steam  which 
filled  the  room.  It  was  but  a  little  place,  with  a  fixed 
wooden  shelf  round  two  sides  of  it  to  save  room  and  chairs  ; 
while  the  stove  and  a  cradle  had  more  space  and  spared 
less.  A  door  opened  into  a  very  small  bedroom,  or  rather 
upon  a  bed  ;  and  in  one  corner  elects  nailed  to  the  boards 
ushered  whatever  lodgers  there  might  be  to  their  sleeping 
apartment  above.  At  present  the  square  hole  of  access 
was  surrounded  with  several  heads  and  half  lengths,  which 
looked  down  upon  us  as  we  glanced  at  them — with  a  feel- 
ing of  wonder  how  they  got  there. 

Mrs.  O'Keefe  left  her  work  and  greeted  us  with  real 
pleasure  and  gratitude ;  and  very  Irish  though  her  fiice 
was,  and  covered  with  freckles,  it  was  yet  young  and  good- 
natured  ;  and  had  withal  that  touch  of  life's  work  upon  it, 
which  is  always  interesting. 

"  And  how  is  this  little  thing  to-day  ]"  said  Kate  looking 
into  the  cradle. 

'•  She  has  the  chills  every  day  !"  said  Mrs.  O'Keefe.  "  O 
— oh  ! — the  poor,  little  crathur  !"  she  went  on,  addressing 
the  child  in  a  tone  of  mingled  sorrow  and  playfulness  that 
was  sad  to  hear. 

It  was  a  very  pale  little  face  that  lay  in  the  cradle,  and 
on  it  Ireland  had  set  her  stamp  in  very  strong  and  not  fair 
proportions,  and  the  lace  cap  and  pink  ribbons  were 
strangely  out  of  place.  Yet  the  face  brightened  at  these 
words,  and  the  baby  tried  to  laugh, — but  failing  that  it 
could  only  cry.  It  was  a  picture  of  mother  and  child ! 
the  same  all  the  world  over ! 

"  He's  got  it  the  day  too,"  said  Mrs.  O'Keefe  indicating 
a  head  which  lay  in  the  bed  on  which  the  door  opened,  and 
trying  meanwhile  all  manner  of  soothing  words  and  mo- 
tions upon  the  little  occupant  of  the  cradle, 

"  And  how  is  your  brother  ?" 


438  DOLLARS  AND   CEXTS. 

"  O  he's  beautiful !"  she  said  quite  rapturously,  and  shut- 
ting up  her  eyes  tight. 

"  And  have  you  got  quite  over  the  chills  1" 

"  I  think  I'll  have  it  the  day — it  usen't  to  come  on  afore 
afternoon.'' 

She  looked  tired  and  not  well,  and  the  child  cried  uncea- 
singly. 

"  Mamma  made  you  some  more  broth,"  said  Kate  pro- 
ducing a  pitcher  from  under  her  cloak, — "  you  said  your 
husband  relished  it." 

"  Indade  'an  he  did  Miss  !  more  than  anything  !  Ain't  I 
obliged  to  you  for  coming  down  !  Only  it's  too  much 
trouble." — 

"  No,  we  wanted  a  walk.  Is  there  anything  we  can  do 
to  help  youf 

"  And  to  fetch  the  pitcher  too  ! — Och  hush  !  No  Miss 
— there's  little  to  do, — the  dinner's  nigh  done, — there's  just 
the  bread  for  the  boys'  supper." 

"  You  are  not  well,"  said  Kate, — "  and  this  poor  little 
thing  does  not  like  to  be  left  alone  when  it's  sick.  If 
you'll  give  me  the  yeast  and  water  Mrs.  O'Keefe,  I'll  make 
the  bread  for  you." 

Mrs.  O'Keefe  protested,  but  Kate  was  determined,  and 
throwing  her  wrappers  into  my  arms  (there  was  no  other 
clean  place — we  had  not  even  ventured  to  sit  down)  she 
beo;an  mixinor  and  workinfj  in  good  earnest. 

I  thought  of  the  mower's  lunch,  and  looked  on  with  al- 
most as  much  admiration  as  Mrs.  OKeefe. 

Meantime  the  child  went  to  sleep,  and  the  mother  ex- 
amined the  progress  of  dinner. 

"  What  is  in  this  kettle  ?"  said  Kate  as  she  stood  by  'the 
stove  to  dry  her  hands  in  preference  to  using  a  towel. 

"  It's  gruel  Miss — it's  all  I  had  to  make  for  him." 

"  Well  don't  make  any  more" — said  Kate  with  a  slight 
shudder  at  the  thought  of  any  sick  person's  taking  such  a 
compound, — "  I'll  send  you  some.  We  haven't  so  many 
people  to  cook  for,  and  can  make  it  as  well  as  not.  And 
we  have  white  meal,  which  is  the  best  for  gruel." 

Mrs.  O'Keefe  could  only  repeat, 

"  Indade  I'm  intirely  thanlcful  t'ye !" 


DOLLARS  AXD  CEXTS.  439 

A  few  words  of  advice  and  promise  were  spoken,  and 
we  prepared  to  come  away. 

"  Will  I  send  one  of  the  childers  wid  yees  to  carry  the 
pitcher?  for  fear  it  would  get  broke?"  said  Mrs.  O'Keefe. 

"  What  the  one  we  brought  down  ?  O  that  can  stay  till 
another  time — you  needn't  empty  it  now." 

"  There's  a  mug,  Miss,  lefl  ever  since — and  a  dish,  more 
than  all !" 

"  It's  too  cold  for  the  children  to  walk  so  far — we  can 
carry  the  things  under  our  cloaks — just  as  well  as  not." 

Mrs.  O'Keefe  brought  them,  but  still  seemed  doubtful. 

"It's  too  much  trouble!"  she  said. 

'•  No  it  isn't  a  bit" — said  we  bestowing  them  as  Kate  had 
proposed. 

"The  Lord  bless  ye!  and  may  ye  never  know  trouble!'* 
was  her  earnest  reply,  given  with  true  Irish  adaptation. 

We  walked  on  in  silence  for  some  time,  our  hearts  too 
full  to  say  much.  It  was  very  good  to  look  at  the  trials  of 
other  people!  And  now  as  our  own  home  came  in  sight 
how  very  fair  it  looked !  the  pure  untrodden  snow  about  it 
gave  no  sad  suggestions;  and  if  Me  thought  of  the  bare 
rooms  within,  it  was  with  very  great  thankfulness. 

The  strangers  had  gone,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Howard  were 
alone  in  the  sitting-room.  But  our  cheerfulness  received  a 
sudden  check  as  we  came  up  to  them.  Mrs.  Howard's  face 
wore  unmistakeable  traces  of  tears — indeed  they  were  not- 
so  far  banished  that  she  could  give  us  more  than  one  glance, 
— and  though  my  father's  face  was  more  composed,  there 
was  something  about  it  which  said  they  had  thought  and 
felt  together.  It  was  not  without  some  effort  that  he  could 
tell  us,  that  he  had  been  offered  a  professorship  in  the  new 
college  at  Ethan. 


440  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 


CHAPTEE   XLY. 


Now  is  the  high  tide  of  the  year, 

And  whatever  of  life  hath  ebbed  away 
Comes  flooding  back,  with  a  ripply  cheer, 

Into  every  bare  inlet  and  creek  and  bay; 
Now  the  heart  is  so  full  that  a  drop  overfills  it, 
We  are  happy  now  because  God  so  wills  it; 
No  matter  how  barren  the  past  may  have  been, 
'lis  enough  for  us  now  that  the  leaves  are  green. 

U>- KNOWN. 


THE  sudden  reTnoval  of  a  burden  which  had  been  upon 
us  till  it  seemed  like  a  part  of  ourselves, — the  resolv- 
ing of  all  our  doubts  and  uncertainties, — the  assurance  that 
we  might  live  without  being  separated  either  from  each 
other  or  our  old  home,  was  almost  too  much:  it  took  us 
long  to  get  used  to  it.  What  the  professor's  salary  might 
be  we  hardly  knew  or  cared, — my  flither  had  told  us  but 
h^'s  words  were  unheeded.  Just  one  idea  could  be  dwelt 
upon — it  was  the  "something  certain"  we  had  so  long 
wished  for!  whether  the  amount  were  large  or  small  little 
affected  its  value  to  us.  We  could  live  upon  anything,  if 
we  could  have  that  recularlv-     No  one  could  imasrine  the 


-&■ 


happiness  of  such  a  prospect,  who  had  not  been  through  our 
long  and  trying  experience. 

Mr.  Howard  came  to  the  use  of  his  wits  rather  sooner 
than  the  rest  of  us,  and  began  to  introduce  what  he  called 
reform  measures  at  home.  First  he  forbade  us  to  copy 
any  more, — then  he  issued  an  order  against  wearing  calico 
dresses  in  winter;  and  then  he  insisted  that  we  should  get 
some  one  "to  take  care  of  the  kitchen." 

Servants  were  got,  accordingly, — to  our  great  relief;  and 
so  far  as  one  of  them  was  concerned,  to  our  amusement. 
Our  little  friend  'Dency  Barrington  was  only  too  glad  to 


DOLLARS  AND   CENTS.  441 

come  and  officiate  in  that  department  which  advertisements 
call  "  waiting  and  tending ;"  and  marked  her  sense  of  the  dig- 
nity of  her  new  position  by  never  appearing  about  the  table, 
unless  coifTed  with  a  spick  and  span  starched  sunbonnet. 

It  seemed,  as  we  said,  as  if  every  circumstance  in  this 
new  turn  of  things  was  particularly  pleasant, — even  that 
one  of  Ethan's  being  so  far  away.  For  now,  to  make  sure 
of  reaching  it  in  time  and  in  all  weathers,  it  was  absolutely 
necessary  that  my  father  should  afford  himself  a  horse, — 
which  he  never  would  have  done  but  for  the  necessity,  and 
which  we  rejoiced  over  without  stint.  What  a  busy  few 
days  there  were  of  arrangement  and  preparation !  Some 
things  to  be  made  and  some  things  to  be  bought, — we 
were  in  a  little  cloud  of  excitement  and  pleasure,  and 
didn't  quite  know  where  we  were.  Only  my  father  pre- 
served his  identity,  and  looked  at  us  very  often  and  with 
exceeding  satisfaction.  The  little  cloud  was  a  pleasant  me- 
dium to  his  eyes. 

But  the  first  morning  -we  saw  him  ride  off  for  Ethan  ! — 

It  was  too  cold  to  stand  at  the  door,  and  we  had  grouped 
ourselves  round  the  window  to  look  out.  And  there  with 
our  eyes  taking  in  the  old  style  of  dress  and  accoutrements, 
— so  long  unseen  about  him  !  and  our  hearts  looking  back 
to  other  times  and  forward  to  new,  and  dwelling  delight- 
edly on  the  present  fact  that  change  of  dress  and  relief  of 
mind  had  made  my  father  look  like  his  former  self; — both 
eyes  and  hearts  grew  too  full.  And  when  as  his  horse  took 
the  first  step  forward  Mr.  Howard  looked  round  to  give  us 
one  parting  smile  and  gesture, — we  answered  it  to  be  sure, 
but  then  left  the  window,  and  sitting  down  together  wept 
as  uncontrollably  as  if  a  sorrow  had  befallen  us,  instead  of 
a  joy.  It  was  a  long  time  before  his  daily  going  and  com- 
ing ceased  to  be  incidents  in  our  life  ;  or  before  we  could 
realize  that  the  putting  the  house  and  ourselves  into  such 
order  as  befitted  my  father's  new  position,  was  not  extrava- 
gance but  a  proper  outlay  of  money.  And  we  had  tho 
money  to  lay  out! — that  was  the  most  wonderful  of  all. 

In  the  midst  of  this  happy  confusion  of  ideas  and  multi- 
plication of  business,  I  fell  sick,  and  engrossed  all  the  spare 
time  of  the  family.  Copying  had  been  done  away  with  be- 
fore :   but  now  all  other  work  that  could  not  be  brought 

19» 


442  DOLLARS  ASD  CEXTS. 

into  my  room  was  exchanged  ^ot  the  more  wearisome  task 
of  nursing.  Task  I  should  not  call  it. — nothing  made  it  so 
unless  sorrow  for  the  cause  of  it.  And  so  evenly  are 
things  balanced  in  this  world,  that  in  every -day  life  it  is 
hard  to  be  very  sorry  or  very  glad  for  anything.  I  knew 
there  was  absolute  pleasure  in  taking  care  of  me;  and  on 
my  part  the  weeks  of  moderate  illness  were  well  paid  for 
by  the  love  and  tenderness  they  called  out :  and  if  gentle 
words  and  soft  hands  could  not  do  away  pain,  they  at  least 
gave  it  a  bright  set-off.  Yet  be  not  too  tender  in  a  sick 
room — or  at  least  show  it  not  too  plainly, — the  word  or 
look  too  deeply  fraught  with  anxious  love  is  more  than  the 
sick  one  can  bear;  when  bodily  weakness  leave.s  every 
nerve  and  affection  of  the  mind  unprotected.  1  many  a 
time  dreaded  my  father's  visits, — Mamma  and  Kate  were 
so  constantly  about  me,  that  we  were  in  a  measure  used  to 
each  other.  As  for  'Dency — the  satisfaction  with  which 
she  entered  my  room  was  great,  and  would  lead  one  to  sup- 
pose that  she  would  be  rather  sorry  than  otherwise  when  I 
got  well.  The  little  green  sunbounet  was  hardly  less  be- 
nign than  the  little  face  under  it. 

With  the  last  winter  days  my  illness  wore  off,  and  I  was 
able  by  degrees  to  hear  what  was  going  on  in  the  world, — 
to  look  at  the  work  that  was  now  often  brought  to  my  bed- 
side, and  to  watch  and  talk  to  the  workers. 

'•  We  shall  have  you  down  stairs  again  to-moiTOw,  dear 
Gracie,"  Kate  said  to  me  one  morning.  "  I  hope  you  will 
be  strong  enough  by  that  time." 

'•I  shall  be  almost  sorry,  Katie — it  is  so  very  pleasant 
to  lie  here  and  see  you  and  mamma  moving  about  me." 

"You  won't  think  so  when  you  are  able  to  move  about 
yourself."  she  said  kissing  me. 

'•  Yes  I  shall — but  I  shall  be  glad  to  have  you  rest.  O 
Katie  !  what  should  I  do  without  you  I" 

Again  her  lips  touched  my  forehead  from  which  she  was 
brusiiing  back  the  hair. 

"  Do  you  see  what  a  beautiful  day  it  is?" 

"O  yes — and  I  heard  the  song-sparrows  before  sunrise. 
You  haven't  sung  with  your  harp  since  I  have  been  sick." 

"  I  couldn't  bring  my  harp  upstairs  very  well,"  said  Kate 
smiling. 


DOLLARS  AXD   CFXTS.  443 

"I  do  wonder  who  ever  sent  it  home!  And  I  wonder 
what  will  turn  up  next — or  if  we  shall  live  quiet  lives  ia 
future !" 

'•  Are  you  going  to  get  up  to  breakfast,  Gracie  1  or  will 
you  have  it  in  bed  V 

'•  in  bed — according  to  mamma.     Where  is  she  ]" 

"She  went  down  stairs  to  see  Mr.  Rodney." 

"  O  has  he  come  !  and  have  you  seen  liim  ?" 

"Yes/' 

"  But  when  did  he  cornel" 

"  Before  breakfast." 

"  Why  wasn't  I  awake,  and  well  enough  to  go  down  !" 

"My  dear  child!  I  wish  you  had  been!"  said  Kate. 
"But  here  comes  'Dency  with  your  breakfast,  in  good 
time." 

"How  do  you  feel  this  morning,  Miss  Grace?"  said  the 
little  handmaid  after  she  had  set  down  her  load  and  sta- 
tioned herself  to  survey  my  general  appearance. 

"  Much  better  'Dency,  thank  you  !" 

"  What  a  pretty  day  it  is.  " 

"  Beautiful — and  there  are  so  many  birds  about." 

"Yes  ma'am.  There's  the  most  robins  in  the  trees!  I 
guess  they  was  robins.  Ain't  it  good  Mr.  Collingwood  had 
such  fine  weather  1" 

"  Very  good  I"  said  I  with  what  gravity  I  could  muster. 
And  'Dency  went  out  of  the  room,  watching  me  to  the  last. 

There  never  was  anything  gentler  than  the  care  that 
was  lavished  upon  me,  or  than  the  hands  that  bolstered 
me  up,  and  then  supplied  me  with  all  I  wanted  from  the 
tray. 

"  What  a  strange  thing  it  is  to  have  chickens  for  break- 
fast !"  I  said. 

"  I  think  we  should  have  found  ways  and  means  to  get 
them  for  you  Gracie,  in  any  circumstances." 

"  But  you  see  it  is  a  great  deal  pleasanter  to  find  the 
chickens. — This  sickness  would  have  come  hard  upon  me  a 
year  ago — with  the  constant  thought  of  how  much  it  was 
costing." 

"  How  often  that  has  been  in  ray  mind  !"  said  Kate.  "I 
have  never  seen  the  doctor  come  without  such  a  feeling  of 
thankfulness !    I  suppose  we  should  have  had  hizo  just  as 


444  DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS. 

often,  but  I  clon't  know  ^vhen  he  would  have  been  paid. 
Miss  Easy  might  well  tell  us  never  to  dread  anything." 

"  And  that,  '  If  we  should  be  sick' !  has  been  one  of  the 
most  painful  thoughts  to  mamma  in  all  these  years  of 
poverty.  But  Kate  I  want  you  to  tell  me"' everything  that 
was  said  this  morning  while  you  were  down  stairs." 

"  Everything  V — 

*'  Every  single  thing.  Where  is  Mr.  Rodney  to  be 
settled  ]" 

"I  don't  know  dear, — he  does  not  know  himself  yet." 

''  1  hope  he  will  be  near  us  1" 

'•  He  will  be  near  us  for  a  while,  Gracie — he  intends  to 
stay  for  some  weeks  at  the  Lea." 

"  At  the  Lea !  why,  isn't  he  going  to  stay  with  us  as 
usual  ]" 

"  He  says  not." 

"That  is  very  strange!  Then  you  have  nothing  to  tell 
me  after  all  the  talk  you  must  have  had  ]" 

"Not  much,"  said  Kate  smiling.  "  ^Ir.  Rodney  is  very 
sorry  you  are  sick — and  said  he  would  bring  you  some 
flowers,  if  he  could  find  any  in  Mr.  Carvill's  greenhouse." 

"  I  don't  believe  ^Nlr.  Carvill  would  approve  of  such  a 
continuation  of  his  apology,"  said  I  laughing. 

But  the  flowers  came — beautiful  ones;  and  to  use  Mrs. 
Barstow's  words  were  "better  than  a  doctor."  They  were 
doubly  pleasant  when  I  was  able  to  be  down  stairs  on  the 
new  sofa,  and  to  take  with  them  Mr.  Rodney's  m.ost  kind 
and  affectionate  greeting  and  inquiries.  Scmietimes  as  the 
season  advanced  the  greenhouse  flowers  were  exchanged  for 
a  bunch  fresh  from  the  woods  and  fields, — less  striking,  less 
splendidly  beautiful,  but  with  no  want  of  loveliness;  and 
with  perhaps  more  of  character  in  their  fresh  faces,  when 
one  remembered  the  cold  spring  days  and  bleak  situations 
when  and  where  they  ventured  forth.  Wind-flowers  and 
squirrel-cups  laid  their  fair  heads  together ;  and  blood-root 
and  yellow  violets  ranged  themselves  round  the  stiff  furry 
leaves  and  sweet  pink  clusters  of  the  many-named  monso- 
ear.  And  the  great  yellow  cows^lip  tried  to  throw  them  all 
into  the  shade,  and  could  not  but  with  its  green  leaves. 
On  one  account  I  liked  these  best, — Mr.  Rodney  often  told 
us  in  what  places  they  grew,  and  sometimes  of  the  walk  in 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  445 

'svhich  he  had  found  them.  Occasionally  he  added  an  ac- 
count of  other  things  he  had  seen  during  the  walk,  but  that 
•was  when  he  had  gone  with  Mr.  Ellis  or  my  father.  AVe 
knew  him  too  well  to  doubt  the  nature  of  his  own  explor- 
ing expeditions,  and  therefore  seldom  asked  for  more  infor- 
mation than  he  chose  to  give.  Once  in  a  while  Kate  was 
persuaded  to  take  a  ramble  but  generally  she  would  not 
leave  me,  unless  I  was  in  one  of  those  deep  slumbers  with 
which  I  tried  to  make  up  for  lost  time  and  rest.  Nor 
always  then ;  and  gi-ad  as  I  was  to  have  her  go,  my  eyes 
always  sought  her  the  moment  they  were  open ;  and  per- 
haps it  was  well  that  she  could  only  see  the  expression 
they  wore  when  successful  in  their  search.  Often  they 
went  further  then,  and  found  Mr.  Collingwood. 

'"Gracic,"  he  said  to  me  one  day,  when  I  had  exchanged 
a  waking-up  smile  with  both  himself  and  Kate,  "  you  re- 
mind me  of  those  flowers  that  contrive  to  look  at  the  sun 
all  the  time — no  matter  where  he  is.  They  fjice  the  east 
in  the  morning,  and  then  turn  their  heads  by  little  and  lit- 
tle as  the  centre  of  attraction  moves  on." 

"And  you  think  Kate  is  the  centre  of  attraction  ]"  said  I 
laughing. 

"  Certainly !" 

"It  must  seem  a  little  comical! — to  people  that  don't 
know  what  good  reason  I  have." 

"Some  people  do  know,"  he  answered  with  a  smile. 
"  But  Gracie.  if  the  sun  should  go  under  a  cloud  for  an  hour 
or  two — Qfif  the  !Moon  should  come  between  you  and  it, — 
what  would  you  do  then  ?  shut  up  vour  eyes  and  go  to 
sleep  ?" 

"Maybe  so  !     Where  is  she  going?" 

"I  wanted  her  to  take  a  ride  with  me  to-morrow — and 
there  is  some  doubt  as  to  what  this  little  sensitive-plant 
will  do  the  while." 

"This  little  sensitive-plant  will  not  be  in  a  touching 
mood — at  all !  Katie — you  didn't  hesitate  about  going 
becjuTse  of  me?" 

"She  hesitated  so  far  as  to  refuse  pretty  decidedly,"  ?aid 
Mr.  Collingwood.  "Therefore  I  chose  to  defy  prohibition 
and  ask  you." 

"She  shall  go!     I  would  give  anything  to  have  her  ride 


446  DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS. 

again — it  would  do  her  so  much  good.  And  she  has  been 
all  these  weeks  shut  up  with  me." — 

"  What  kind  of  a  privation  do  you  call  that  V  said  Kate's 
voice  and  hand  at  once. 

I  kept  hold  of  the  hand  and  drew  it  down  by  my  face, 
but  paid  no  attention  to  the  voice. 

"  What  time  will  you  come  for  her,  Mr.  Rodney  1" 

"At  any  hour  she  will  name  after  eleven — I  have  an  en- 
gagement which  may  hold  me  till  then.'' 

"  But  Mr.  Rodney  I — she  hasn't  a  horse  now  !" 

"But  Miss  Gracie  I  do  not  intend  to  have  her  ride  with- 
out one,"  said  he  laughing.  "  Do  you  think  my  resources 
are  not  equal  to  that  V 

'•0  1  was  thinking  only  of  our  own.  I  am  very  glad 
she  is  going  !  I  am  sure  it  will  do  her  a  great  deal  of  good ! 
I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you  sir,  for  my  part." 

"  You  are  the  best  little  sister  in  the  world  ! — and  have 
as  small  reason  to  be  obliged  to  me  as  ever  anybody  had. 
Then  Miss  Katie — you  will  please  to  hold  yourself  in  read- 
iness for  my  coming  to-morrow.     But  at  what  time  V' — 

'•  That  question  may  as  well  be  settled  as  the  other  has 
been,"  said  Kate — ''I  think  I  will  have  nothing  to  sav 
about  it." 

"  Then  as  soon  after  eleven  as  I  can." 

"  Yes,  that  will  be  the  best  time,"  I  said,  "  because  papa 
always  wants  her  to  sing  to  him  in  the  afternoon.  O  Mr. 
Rodney — weren't  you  glad  to  see  the  harp  back  again]" 

"  Very  glad." 

"  Wasn't  it  strange]     Did  Kate  tell  youl" 

"  She  said  something  to  me  about  it." 

"  Weren't  you  astonished  ?" 

"  1  should  hardly  have  thought  you  could  be,  Gracie." 

*'  Why  not  ]" 

"  Astonished  that  anybody  should  do  anything  for  your 
sister  ]" 

''  O  but — not  people  that  care  about  her,  of  course — but 
people  that  don't — I  mean  strangers." 

"I  should  think  it  probable,"  said  Mr.  CoUingwood 
gravely — "  so  far  as  I  am  in  possession  of  the  facts  of  the 
case — that  this  unknown  person  must  have  belonged  to  the 
former  class." 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  447 

"  It  has  made  us  so  happy !  "We  never  could  have  re- 
placed this  oue  !  Kate  said  yesterday  that  if  papa  could 
have  got  her  a  uew  one  she  shouldn't  have  loved  it  half  so 
well." 

"I  said  so,  Gracie  !" 

"Yes — for  I  asked  you.  Do  you  think  that  is  strange, 
Mr.  Rodney  ?  that  you  smile  at  it." 

"I  should  not  be  quite  ^villing  to  call  it  strange,  Gracie. 
But  I  am  very  glad  Miss  Kate  is  of  that  mind — since  she 
has  this  and  not  another." 

I  was  in  my  usual  place  on  the  sofa  next  morning,  when 
Kate  came  down  dressed  in  her  habit. 

"  I  wonder  if  I  ever  had  this  on  before  I"  she  said. 
"  Look  at  me  Gracie — does  it  convey  any  long-forgotten 
ideas  to  your  mind  V 

'"Jt  conveys  some  long-forgotten  pleasure.  Kate,  you 
look  lovely  !" 

"  Is  that  a  long-forgotten  pleasure  V  she  said  ^Yith  a 
laugh. 

"  No — But  how  came  that  to  fit  you  ?" 

"  First  place,  because  for  several  years  my  nature  has 
been  aspiring  and  not  encroaching. — second  place,  because 
the  tiny  alterations  my  dress  needed  have  been  made." 

"Sit  down  here  and  let  me  see  you." 

There  never  was  anything  better  deserved  the  name 
of  pleasure.  From  the  habit  to  the  little  cap  that  lay  on 
the  table,  and  thence  to  the  foir  head  it  was  to  cover — par- 
tially, as  Mr.  Carvill  might  have  said — my  eyes  passed  and 
repassed,  more  satisfied  each  time.  I  thought  anybody 
might  have  been  proud  to  ride  with  her  I  And  perhaps 
my  face  bore  a  strong  impression  of  that  opinion — I  thought 
Mr.  Rodney's  smile  rather  said  so, — or  at  least  I  didn't 
quite  know  what  it  said  ;  but  I  half  fancied  that  he  read 
my  thoughts  and  agreed  to  them. 

"  I  was  under  the  impression  that  it  was  a  bright  day  out 
of  doors — till  I  came  in  here,"  he  said. 

"The  simlight  has  dazzled  your  eyes,"  said  Kate. 

"  Something  has,  I  believe.  Gracie,  I  hope  you  have  a 
picture  of  Miss  Kate  to  look  at  while  she  is  away  1" 

"  I  have  one — by  heart,"  I  said. 

"  And  will  you  remember  that  it  is  the  duty  of  little 


448  DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS. 

sensitive  plants  to  close  their  leaves  in  the  sun's  absence? 
to  keep  out  of  the  way  of  falling  dews,  and  all  such  uncom- 
fortable things  1" 

"  I  don't  know  ! — it  would  be  hardly  worth  while  for  so 
short  a  time." 

His  next  words  were  spoken  M-ith  that  grave  gentleness 
of  look  and  voice  which  soiiietinies  puzzled  ine. 

"  I  wish  you  would  make  haste  and  get  well,  dear  Gracie." 

"  I  wonder  what  suggested  that  subject !  But  nobody  is 
in  haste  about  anything  to-day,  sir, — you  came  just  when 
you  said  you  would,  but  since  then  there  has  been  a  stay 
of  proceedings." 

"You  know,"  said  Mr.  Collingwood  smiling,  "  the  centre 
of  attraction  enforces  punctuality,  but  is  not  obliged  to 
practise  it.  Miss  Kate  has  been  looking  at  you,  and  the 
consequence  is  that  she  has  but  one  glove  on." 

"  Well — neither  have  you,  sir." — 

''  It  is  very  clear  that  you  know  more  of  the  duties  of 
se«sitive  plants  than  of  gentlemen  !  I  shall  not  put  on  my 
other  glove  till  I  have  had  the  honour  of  putting  this  lady 
on  her  horse." 

I  looked  round  at  Kate,  and  I  suppose  my  face  again  told 
my  thoughts,  for  they  both  laughed,  and  Kate  after  one 
farewell  kiss  declared  herself  ready. 

The  moment  they  left  the  room  I  left  my  sofa,  and  with 
a  peifect  disregard  of  all  rules  and  regulations  made  my 
way  to  the  window.  I  had  no  mind  to  be  seen  and  sent 
back,  however,  and  therefore  seated  myself  in  the  shade  of 
the  window  frame  and  curtain.  The  sash  was  thrown  up 
and  yet  the  curtain  hardly  stirred,  for  spring  had  a  mind 
that  day  to  try  gentle  influences.  The  cold  winds  had  died 
away,  and  there  was  nothing  more  than  the  spirit  of  a 
breeze  abroad — the  very  breath  of  love  and  persuasion.  At 
its  request  the  song-sparrows  wore  themselves  out  with 
singing  and  building, — and  the  birches  and  alders  loosened 
their  flowery  tresses,  and  the  lawn  changed  its  dress  with 
pleasure  ;  while  tuli|)s  and  hyacinths  made  surprising  eff<)rts 
at  getting  up,  and  those  earlier  risers — the  violets — opened 
their  blue  eyes,  and  modestly  entered  their  claim  to  be, 
simply,  the  sweetest  things  in  the  world  !  The  trees  were 
leafless,  but  nothing  could  look  unadorned  in  that  soft  light, 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  449 

and  the  even  deepening  colour  of  their  shoots  said  they 
were  not  idle. 

I  would  not  have  it  supposed  that  Kate  was  all  this  time 
in  mounting  her  horse.-  But  almost  before  I  looked  at 
the  principal  figures,  my  eye  caught  rapidly  all  the  accesso- 
ries of  the  picture  that  lay  beyond  the  window  frame, — 
the  atmosphere — the  tone  and  colouring. — Then  it  came 
back  with  very  undivided  attention. 

The  horse  destined  for  Kate  had  been  held  by  a  groom 
luitil  she  came  out,  but  the  other  one  stood  quietly  by  him- 
self a  few  steps  otT,  with  the  bridle  thrown  over  his  head 
as  if  he  could  be  trusted.  Indeed  1  never  saw  Mr.  Rod- 
ney's horse  left  in  any  other  way ;  and  it  always  seemed 
to  me  as  if  everything  that  belonged  to  him  was  under  the 
same  sort  of  regulation.  And  now  though  the  fine  crea- 
ture pricked  his  ears  forward  and  back,  and  turned  his  head 
at  his  master's  appearance  to  utter  a  low  word  of  greeting, 
he  stood — as  if  horses  had  not  the  power  of  moving.  It 
was  a  pretty  thing  to  see. 

And  a  prettier  thing  was  to  see  the  groom's  charge 
mounted.  A  long  period  of  what  the  Spaniard  called 
"  walking  on  the  earth"  had  lost  Kate  none  of  her  old  skill 
as  a  horsewoman, — her  hand  was  as  steady,  her  spring  as 
light  and  fearless  as  ever, — I  thought  I  had  never  seen  her 
do  the  business  so  well ;  but  that  might  be  because  she 
had  such  very  perfect  assistance.  Her  part  was  perfect 
too, — and  I  thought  I  was  not  the  only  one  who  apprecia- 
ted it;  for  a  few  words  which  I  did  not  hear  had  called 
forth  a  somewhat  heightened  colour,  and  a  not  at  all  dis- 
pleased little  laugh.  I  watched  all  the  finishing  arrange- 
ments with  a  strangely  mixed  feeling.  I  had  often  seen 
her  on  horseback,  but  never  with  so  much  pleasure — never 
before  with  anything  like  pain, — yet  there  it  was  now  at 
my  heart ;: — I  could  not  mistake  it.  How  did  it  get  there  1 
I  tried  to  find  out.  The  particular  pleasure  was  easily 
fathomed, — she  had  not  ridden  for  a  great  while — it  would 
do  her  much  good — and  as  much  pleasure, — I  knew  that 
from  her  face.  But  the  pain  ? — I  could  not  separate  it 
from  that  last  cause  of  my  pleasure.  I  quarrelled  with 
myself,  and  scolded  myself,  and  reasoned  with  myself— to 
xio  purpose.     Whenever  I  tried  to  see  through  that  unao- 


450  DOLLARS  AXD   CENTS. 

countable  feeling,  those  one  or  two  bright  looks  came  up 
before  me.  I  was  not  sorry  to  have  her  go  and  leave  me 
— tears  started  at  the  \Q:xy  idea  of  such  selfishness.  I  was 
not  afraid, — Mr.  Rodney's  every  look  and  touch  told  what 
care  he  would  take  of  her  and  his  qualifications  for  the 
office.  If  1  had  not  been  sure  she  would  enjoy  herself  I 
would  not  have  urged  her  going.  There  seemed  some 
mystified  notion  in  my  mind  which  I  could  neither  seize 
nor  lose  sight  of, — some  singular  feeling  of  grief  that  she 
could  be  so  very  happy  independently  of  me.  And  yet 
as  I  said  to  myself — "  Of  course ! — how  could  I  have  any 
connexion  with  the  pleasure  of  her  ride  ?" — It  would  not 
do, — the  difficulty  was  unanswered ;  and  long  after  the 
horses  were  out  of  sight  and  hearing,  I  sat  gazing  out  into 
that  spring  landscape  which  now  seemed  to  have  very  lit- 
tle in  it.  Mrs.  Howard  came  into  the  room  and  up  to  me 
quite  unnoticed. 

"  My  dear  Gracie  !"  she  said, — "  what  are  you  thinking 
of!     How  long  have  you  been  by  this  open  window  V 

"  I  don't  know  mamma — I  am  not  cold." 

"  Not  cold  !  And  such  a  pale  face !  What  made  you 
come  here  V 

"  I  wanted  to  look  out,  mamma,"  I  said  without  raising 
my  eyes. 

She  said  no  more,  but  putting  her  arm  round  me  she 
drew  me  back  to  the  sofa  and  there  I  presently  went  to 
sleep. 

If  I  had  dreamed  strange  things  it  would  have  been  no 
wonder,  for  when  I  awoke  it  was  to  see  Mr.  Carvill  stand- 
ing before  the  fire  and  talking  to  my  father.  An  exclama- 
tion was  on  the  end  of  my  tongue,  but  I  restrained  it ;  and 
having  answered  the  gentleman's  inquiries  with  a  sober- 
ness which  was  certainly  more  sincere  than  his  own,  my 
eyes  went  across  the  room  to  the  window.  Then  I  saw 
that  the  deceitful  spring  weather  had  changed  its  mind, 
and  was  now  sending  down  "  prelusive  drops"  in  reasonably 
quick  succession. 

"  Does  it  rain  !"  I  exclaimed. 

"You  may  take  me  for  conclusive  evidence  of  that  fact, 
Miss  Grace,"  said  Mr.  Cai-vill.  "  Mr.  Howard,  supposing 
that  I  was  compounded  of  sugar  and  salt  in  agreeable  pro- 


DOLLARS  AXn    CEXTS.  451 

portions,  suggested  that  the  present  dissolving  state  of  tho 
atmosphere  might  produce  unpleasant  consequences.  And 
as  it  was  a  question  where  mistake  might  be  fatal — there 
was  no  help  you  see — I  was  obliged  to  intrude  upon  the 
precincts  of  ^[orpheus." 

"  You  forget,  Mr.  Carvill,-'  said  I  laughing,  "that 

'  Cynthia  still  doth  steepe 
In  silver  deaw  his  ever-drouping  hed.' 

You  are  not  out  of  danger  vet,  sir.  But  papa — has  Kate 
got  home  ]'' 

'•  I  have  seen  nothing  of  her  mv  dear,  since  I  got  home 
myself." 

"  O  do  you  think  she  will  get  wet  ?" 

"I  am  afraid  she  will  Gracie — if  this  rain  falls  upon 
her." 

Sleep  had  restored  my  mind  to  its  usual  quietness,  and  I 
was  all  anxious  to  see  Kate  come  back,  and  to  be  sure  that 
the  rain  had  done  her  no  harm.  It  couldn't  have  done 
much,  for  the  horses  came  with  my  wish.  At  the  first 
sound  I  raised  myself  up,  just  in  time  to  sec  Kate  ride  up 
to  the  door,  and  at  the  same  moment  Mr.  Carvill  moved 
forward  as  if  he  meant  to  go  to  help  her  off — then  stepped 
back  again  with  a  look  I  could  not  comprehend.  She  would 
have  been  off  without  help  had  not  her  companion  been  too 
quick  for  her ;  and  after  that  light  spring  down,  she  came 
in,  holding  up  her  habit,  and  looking  as  I  had  said  before, 
lovely.  Her  first  smile  was  a  perfect  cure  of  the  soreness 
that  yet  remained  from  those  strange  thoughts. 

"  My  dear  Gracie  !"  she  said,  "  you  are — Mr.  Carvill  I" — 
and  she  stopped  short  with  a  colour  that  was  by  no  means 
hesitating.  But  then  instantly  went  forward  and  shook 
hands  with  "  the  curiosity"  in  a  manner  the  most  quiet  and 
self-possessed. 

"You  should  not  have  seen  me  this  some  time.  Miss 
Kate," — said  that  gentleman.  "  Of  course  I  could  not  be 
blind  to  your  appearance — but  Miss  Grace  has  the  first 
right — and  it  is  no  wish  o^  mi?ie  to  come  between  members 
of  a  family.     Then  here  is  my  brother — " 

Kate  came  and  knelt  down  by  me. 

"  How  are  you  love  ?  you  don't  look  so  well." 


452  DOLLARS  AND   CEXTS. 

"  Yes — just  as  well." 

"I  hope  you  enjoyed  your  ride,  Miss  Kate,"  said  Mr. 
Carvill. 

"Why,  sirr 

There  is  something  in  simplicity  that  is  very  amusing  to 
people  unaccustomed  to  it.  Mr.  Carvill  was  nearly  be- 
trayed into  a  laugh. 

"  Can't  answer — upon  my  word !"  he  said.  "  Had  an 
indefinite  idea  that  enjoyment  might  exist  somewhere. — 
Will  you  ask  why,  if  1  inq^uire  whether  you  got  wet.  Miss 
Kate  r 

"I  believe  T  should,"  she  said  smiling, — "because  you 
must  see  tliat  I  did  not." 

"Do  your  eyes  ever  turn  states'  evidence,  Mr.  Carvill?" 
said  my  father,  who  with  Mr.  Rodney  had  now  joined  the 
group. 

"  Very  seldom,  sir — their  taste  lies  rather  in  the  way  of 
collecting  evidence.  But  as  Miss  Kate  very  justly  re- 
marks— one  must  see  what  one  must — " 

"  And  never  what  one  must  not," — said  Mr.  Rodney. 

"  I'll  go  home  and  reflect  upon  that — "  said  Mr.  Carvill. 
"  Meantime  tlie  present  company  are  fast  disappearing 
from  rny  sight — never  knew  my  eyes  were  so  well  trained  ! 
— Miss  Kate — I  salute  your  shadow, — Mr.  Collingwood — 
will  your  visionship  appear  in  full  proportions  at  my  din- 
ner-table f 

"  No,"  said  his  brother  smiling. 

"I  am  going  to  keep  him  here,"  said  my  father, — "and 
you  too  ]\Ir.  Carvill,  if  you  will." 

"I  thank  you  sir — I  will  not,"  said  Mr.  Carvill.  "I  have 
somewhere  found  out  that  in  a  dance  of  shadows  the  pres- 
ence of  a  reality  interferes  with  the  pas  de  deux — in  short 
breaks  the  illusion.  Miss  Kate — the  bright  eyes  of  shad- 
ows are  proverbial, — will  you  give  me  ocular  demonstra- 
tion of  yours? — and  without  exactly  killing  two  birds — it 
is  a  possible  case  to  kill  one — and  make  the  other  fly 
away, — disconsolate,  of  course,  but  with  the  power  of  loco- 
motion unimpaired." 

It  was  not  possible  for  us  to  help  laughing  ;  but  Mr. 
Carvill  went  away  with  his  gravity  as  unimpaired  as  his 
locomotion. 


DOLLABS  AXD   CEXTS.  453 

"What  has  this  child  been  doing  to  herself,  mammal" 
said  Kate. 

"  Nothing  except  sitting  at  the  ^vindow.  Did  you  leave 
her  there  ?" 

"Of  course  not !" 

But  I  thought  that  those  Avho  stood  round  me  exchanged 
looks — and  yet  I  could  not  see  that  they  did, — it  might  be 
only  fancy. 

"  I  should  like  to  hear  your  account  of  the  matter,  Gracie," 
said  Mr.  Collingwood  seating  himself  by  my  sofa.  "  What 
have  you  been  about  since  we  went  away  V 

"  Sleeping,  part  of  the  time. — and  I  was  listening  to  Mr. 
Carvill — and  a  while  at  the  window." 

"  And  what  were  your  thoughts  doing  ?" 

"They  were — busy — "  I  said. 

"  Do  you  remember  Gracie  that  you  and  I  once  found  out 
that  thoughts  are  good  heartsease  ?" 

"Mine  were  not  in  good  order  to-day,"  I  said,  with  a 
sorrowful  recollection  of  how  far  they  had  been  from  hearts- 
ease. 

"  Not  in  good  order  ]"  he  said  gently — "  what  was  the 
matter  with  them?" 

"  I  don't  know  sir — I  couldn't  quite  get  at  it. — I  don't 
wonder  you  look  grave  Mr.  Rodney — but  it  is  easier  to 
know  a  thing  is  wrong,  sometimes,  than  to  help  it." 

"  My  dear  child,  I  was  not  looking  grave  about  that — I 
haven't  found  out  that  they  were  wrong.  Is  this  what  has 
made  you  look  pale  ?" 

"  I  don't  know — '"  1  said  with  a  long  breath — "  my  thoughts 
have  been  in  a  strange  mood,  and  I  couldn't  tell  why — I 
believe  that  tired  me." 

"  Have  been,  or  are  V  he  said  with  a  look  as  if  he  had 
translated  my  dark  thoughts  and  didn't  see  much  harm  iu 
them. 

"O  have  been,"  I  said,  feeling  soothed — "and  my  sleep 
rested  me, — and  I  was  so  glad  to  see  Kate  again." — 

"  Were  you  satisfied  with  your  sister's  horse  1" 

"  O  yes,"  said  I  smiling. 

"  And  didn't  you  admire  the  way  she  mounted  him  ?" 

"  Very  much." 

"You  would  liave  admired  her  management  altogether, 


454  DOLLARS  AND   CEXTS. 

if  your  eyes  could  have  followed  us.  It  is  a  great  pleasure 
to  see  anything  thoroughly  well  done." 

I  was  a  little  too  pleased  to  answer  except  by  a  smile. 

"If  you  had  been  well,  and  at  the  other  side  of  me,"  he 
went  on,  "  Miss  Kate  would  have  enjoyed  the  ride  exceed- 
ingly— so  she  said." 

"  O  she  did  as  it  was !"  I  said  earnestly — "  I  know  she 
did  !     She  was  looking  so  well  when  she  came  in." 

"And  so  she  did  all  the  time  she  was  out,"  said  Mr.  Col- 
lingwood.  "But  I  think  Gracie,  your  sister  hardly  con- 
sidered the  colour  that  came  into  her  own  cheeks  a  suf- 
ficient indemnification  for  the  very  pale  ones  she  had  left  at 
home." 

"  I  am  so  sorry !  she  should  not  have  thought  of  me  at 
all !  Katie,"  I  said  as  she  came  down  from  changing  her 
dress,  "  Mr.  Rodney  has  troubled  me  so  much  by  saying 
that  you  didn't  enjoy  your  ride  because  of  me." 

"  Mr.  Eodney's  remarks  were  not  characterized  by  his 
usual  exactness." 

"  Nor  Miss  Grade's" — said  he  with  a  smile. 

"  I  mean  he  said  what  made  me  think  so." 

"  You  think  wrong,  dear  Gracie ;  I  enjoyed  it  very- 
much." 

"  More  than  any  one  you  ever  took  1     I  wanted  you  to." 

"  Quite  enough  to  satisfy  anybody  that  is  anxious  on  the 
subject,  Gracie — "  she  said, — "  as  much  as  I  could  with  you 
sick  at  home.     Will  that  satisfy  you  f 

I  was  perfectly  satisfied,  and  lay  hearing  them  talk,  with 
unalloyed  pleasure. 

The  spring  wore  on,  and  by  the  time  I  was  well  enough 
to  go  out  everything  was  in  such  a  state  that  it  would  have 
been  a  trial  to  stay  in.  So  I  used  to  wander  about  the  gar- 
den, finding  health  and  enjoyment  in  every  fresh  blade  of 
grass  and  good-humoured-looking  daffodil.  Sometimes  with 
Mrs.  Howard  sometimes  with  Kate,  I  used  to  walk  myself 
tired,  come  in  and  rest,  and  go  out  again. 

I  had  come  in  from  my  morning  walk  one  day,  and  Kate 
had  left  the  room  ;  and  bonnet  in  hand  I  stood  half  deliber- 
ating whether  I  would  not  go  once  more  down  the  walk — it 
looked  so  pleasant. 

"  Grace,"  said  my  stepmother  raising  her  eyes  from  her 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  455 

work,  "  do  you  know  that  we  are  to  have  neighbours  again 
at  the  Bird's  Nest  ?"' 

"In  Miss  Easy's  cottage!  0  I  am  glad! — I  should  lil^e 
to  get  in  there  once  more.  But  how  could  he  let  it ! — Who 
are  thev,  mamma  ?" 

"Who  do  you  think  1" 

"1  can't  imagine." — 

Neither  did  I ;  and  yet  what  was  it  that  laid  a  heavy- 
hand  upon  my  heart  as  I  saw  the  smile  and  heard  the  tone 
with  which  her  last  words  were  spoken  ?  Why  did  I  feel 
myself  change  colour  and  my  voice  lose  steadiness  as  I  re- 
peated, 

"Who  isit?"— 

And  she  answered, 

"Mr.  Collingwood  and  Kate." 


456  DOLLARS  AND   CEXTS. 


CHAPTER  XLYI. 


My  heart  is  not  so  light  as  it  was  i'  the  morning. 

Ben  Jonson. 

WAS  I  glad?— I  did  not  know.  Was  I  sorry'?— I  did 
not  know  that  either.  Would  I  have  undone  it  if  I 
could  1 — No,  not  for  the  world  !  and  with  that  I  was  obliged 
to  rest  content.  Rest !  never  was  anything  less  resting 
than  my  mind.  I  turned  without  a  word,  went  out  of  the 
room  and  out  of  the  house,  and  giving  the  reins  to  ray  feet, 
wandered  on  unconsciously  till  I  reached  a  little  hiding- 
place  in  the  woods, — a  cleared  spot  to  which  the  evergreen 
undergrowth  left  but  one  opening.  There  I  sat  me  down 
and  tried  to  think, — but  it  was  like  the  rush  of  the  whirl- 
pool ;  from  which  every  now  and  then  came  up  myself  as  a 
half  wreck,  with  this  one  colour  nailed  to  the  mast — "Kate 
going  to  leave  me !" — That  thought  was  distinct,  all  the 
rest  maze  and  confusion ;  and  I  sat  with  my  hands  pressed 
on  my  forehead,  listening  to  the  whirl  within,  till  I  was  be- 
Avildered.  I  could  steady  my  mind  with  nothing, — the 
twitter  of  the  birds,  the  play  of  the  bi'anches,  the  many 
sounds  that  fill  the  woods  of  a  spring  day,  all  seemed 
thrown  into  that  vortex. 

There  came  suddenly  to  my  ear  a  short  quick  bark — and 
that  roused  me.  I  knew  the  voice  well, — it  was  Wolf- 
gang's; and  not  doubting  that  his  master  was  with  him  I 
crouched  closer  in  my  concealment.  I  would  rather  have 
seen  anybody  in  the  world  than  Mr.  Collingwood,  at  that 
instant;  and  as  his  quick  step  and  the  bounding  frolic  of 
the  dog  came  nearer,  I  held  my  breath  as  if  the  thicket 
were  not  sufficient  to  hide  me.  Nor  without  reason. 
Wolfgang  stopped  his  bark  and  his  bounds,  together  ;  and 
with  his  keen  nose  to  the  ground  ho  tracked  my  footsteps, 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  457 

till  with  one  spring  he  was  at  my  feet  and  licking  my  hand. 
And  Mr.  Colling  wood  followed. 

"Well!"  he  said, — ''you  are  embowered  herewith  a 
witness !" 

I  looked  up,  and  smiled  or  tried  to  smile  as  usual ; — but 
his  eye  was  too  keen. 

"  You  are  not  well,"  he  said  anxiously, — "  you  are  very 
pale  :  dear  Grace,  what  is  the  matter?" 

And  wilh  one  look  at  him  my  head  sank,  and  I  poured 
out  all  my  confused  thoughts  and  feelings,  doubts,  hopes, 
and  uncertainties,  in  a  passionate  flood  of  tears. 

He  sat  down  by  me,  but  did  not  speak  for  some  time; 
and  then  softly  passing  his  hand  over  my  head  as  he  was 
wont,  he  said  gently, 

"  And  I  am  the  cause  of  all  this  sorrow  !" 

"  No  sir — "  I  faltered, — "  at  least,  yes  sir, — but  I  am  very 
glad." 

"  And  xei'Y  sorry. — I  can  understand  that." 

"  No  sir  you  cannot,"  I  said,  forcing  myself  to  speak 
calmly,  for  the  tone  of  his  voice  was  more  than  I  could 
bear.     "  You  cannot  understand  it  yet." 

"Not  yet?"  he  said  inquiringly. 

"  No — for  you  do  not  know  what  Kate  is  yet." 

'•  I  think  I  know  a  little  about  it ;  but  dear  Gracie  I  am 
not  going  to  take  Kate  far  away  from  you." 

"No  sir — but — you  have  never  lived  in  the  house  with 
her, — you  do  not  know  what  it  would  be  to  have  her  even 
half  a  mile  ofll" 

"I  have  tried  living  half  a  mile  off  myself,"  said  he  smi- 
ling,— "  so  I  ought  to  know  something  about  that  too.  And 
if  I  had  ever  needed  anything  to  quicken  my  appreciation 
of  your  sister,  the  love  of  her  little  sister  would  have  done 
it." 

There  was  some  comfort  in  that,  though  it  bowed  my 
head  again  ;  but  less  bitterly. 

"  And  I  have  thought — I  am  sure — that  she  never  loved 
you  with  such  full  affection  as  since  I  have  had  some  claim 
upon  her.     Isn't  it  true?" 

One  quick  glance  my  mind  sent  back,  and  I  answered 
yes.     But  the  pain  of  that  glance  ! 

"Then  cannot  you  trust  her  for  the  future?"  he  said 


458  hOLLAES  ASD   GENTS. 

gently,  and  as  if  he  knew  and  felt  all  that  I  did.  "My 
dear  child — what  shall  I  say  to  you  ? — I  cannot  bear  to  see 
you  do  so." 

"  Nothing  sir — please  don't  say  anything  to  me  just  now ; 
and  don't  think  that  I  am  sorry — for  indeed  I  am  very  glad, 
— and  if  she  were  going  anywhere  else  I  could  not  be  glad 
at  all." 

If  tears  could  confirm  a  declaration,  this  was  signed  and 
sealed. 

"  O  Mr.  Collingwood !"  I  said,  looking  up  after  a  while, 
"  why  did  you  come  in  here  after  Wolfgang !" 

"  I  am  most  glad  1  did." 

"And  I  am  so  sorry! — you  will  just  think  that  I  care 
nothing  about  you,  and  that  I  care  more  for  my  own  hap- 
piness than  her's." 

"  I  shall  think  nothing  of  the  sort,  Gracie — unless  you 
take  up  that  ceremonious  name  of  'Mr.  Collingwood,' — I 
may  suppose  then  that  you  are  unwilling  to  make  a  bro- 
ther of  me." 

"  But  Mr.  Rodney,"  I  said,  "  how  is  it  that  you  can  live 
here?  you  have  not  given  up  preaching  ?" 

"  No — I  could  not  do  that,  even  to  live  here;  but  there 
have  been  a  good  many  things  done  since  you  were  well 
enough  to  hear  of  them.  I  have  been  called  to  your  favour- 
ite little  church." 

"To  assist  Mr.  Ellis  1" 

"  Mr.  Ellis  has  resigned  this  charge  for  one  at  Ethan." 

"  O  I  am  so  glad !  I  was  afraid  it  would  never  be, — the 
very  thing  Miss  Easy  wished ! — and  then — "  but  the  M'orda 
would  not  come. 

"  She  wished  more  than  one  thing  that  you  have  learned 
to-day,  Gracie.  But  now  look  up  and  tell  me — are  you 
willing  to  take  that  long-ago-refused  title  of  Miss  Howard? 
— willing  to  have  the  objection  to  it  removed? 

"  Very  sorry  still,"  he  repeated  as  he  looked  earnestly 
in  my  eyes — for  I  attempted  not  to  speak.  "  I  cannot 
wonder  !" 

And  then  reminding  me  that  I  had  been  sick,  and  ought 
not  to  stay  out  longer,  Mr.  Collingwood  put  my  hand  on 
his  arm  and  brought  me  to  the  house  with  as  much  care 
aiid  gentleness  as  if  I  had  been  a  baby  sister. 


DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS.  459 

There  was  no  one  in  the  sitting-room,  but  as  I  ran  up 
stairs  Kate  met  me. 

"  Where  have  you  been,  Gracie  V  she  said  with  an  anx- 
ious look,  and  laying  her  hand  upon  my  shoulder.  "  Where 
are  you  going  V 

"  To  brush  my  hair — one  minute," — I  said  breathlessly. 

"  You  will  come  right  down? — you  promise  me  f 

"Yes,"  I  said,  giving  her  one  kiss;  and  then  quickly  es- 
caping I  ran  up  to  my  room — but  it  was  to  throw  myself 
on  the  bed  in  a  new  burst  of  tears, — again  so  sorrowful,  so 
bewildered.  Nothing  could  have  stayed  them,  but  my 
promise  and  the  fear  of  Kate's  coming  for  me.  But  1  must 
compose  myself  and  go  down,  and  I  did ;  and  sealing  my- 
self on  a  low  seat  by  her's,  I  laid  my  head  on  Kate's  lap 
without  a  word,  and  with  her  hand  drawn  round  my  neck. 

For  a  while  they  talked  on, — of  Miss  Easy  and  all  her 
love  and  loveliness,  of  the  years  before  and  the  years  since 
we  came  to  Glen  Luna ;  but  now  and  then  the  slight  tremor 
in  Kate's  voice,  or  the  clasp  of  the  fingers  I  held,  told 
where  her  thoughts  were — and  it  almost  broke  my  heart 
to  have  her  grieved  for  me.  Then  Mr.  Rodney  left  his 
seat,  and  came  round  and  took  one  at  the  side  where  I 
sat. 

"Gracie,"  he  said,  gently  touching  his  lips  to  my  cheek, 
"  I  wish  you  would  look  up  and  talk  to  me.  Are  you 
asleep  ?" 

"No  sir — I  was  listeninsj — and  thinking." 

"  Trying  to  make  out  whether  you  have  any  liking  for 
one  of  your  old  friends  left?" 

"  Oh  no, — it  wouldn't  take  long  to  do  that." 

"  What  then  ? — which  of  us  is  most  to  blame  in  this 
matter? — whether  it  is  all  my  fault,  or  whether  your  sister 
has  some  share  in  it?" 

"Ah  Mr.  Rodney!"  I  said, — "please  don't  make  me 
laugh." 

"  I  wish  I  could, — I  should  feel  more  disposed  to  laugh 
myself    As  it  is,  I  am  like  to  go  away  with  the  heartache." 

"You  mustn't  go  away  sir,  while  you  feel  so." 

"  And  how  am  I  to  get  over  feeling  so?"  he  said  with  a 
smile  at  my  peculiar  mode  of  consolation.  "  Gracie,  shall 
1  follow  Macbeth — who 


460  DOLLARS  AXD  CEXTS. 

'  Chid  the  sisters, 
And  bade  them  speak  to  him'  ?" 

I  smiled  a  little  too,  but  it  was  very  sadly  that  I  an- 
swered, 

"  There  wouldn't  be  but  one  to  chide,  Mr.  Rodney." 

"And  if  I  should  thiniv  that  one  to  be  your  sister?"  said 
Mr.  Rodney  with  a  gentle  effort,  not  at  separating  our 
hands,  but  at  taking  them  away  from  my  face  and  into  his 
own  keeping.     "What  would  you  say  to  me  then,  Gracief 

"  I  don't  know  sir — I  should  wait  to  hear  what  she  )\^ould 
say." 

"If  I  thought  it  would  make  her  say  anything,  I  believe 
I  should  try.  Gracie  there  is  one  wish  I  have  had  at  heart 
for  a  long  time, — will  you  help  me  to  carry  it  out  f 

I  was  silent— I  could  not  speak. 

"  Not  the  wish  you  think  1  mean,"  said  he  smiling  and 
gently  drawing  back  my  hair — "  I  cannot  admit  any  ques- 
tion about  that.  But  it  has  grieved  me  very  much  to  see 
this  dear  sister  of  yours  look  as  grave  as  she  has  done 
within  the  last  two  or  three  years,  and  I  have  promised 
myself  that  she  shall  never  do  so  again  if  I  can  help  it. 
You  must  help  me, — how  can  her  f^ce  be  anything  but  sad 
if  such  a  sorrowful  little  reflection  falls  upon  it  1  Look  at 
her  dear  Grace,"  he  added  softly,  "  and  see  if  I  speak 
without  reason." 

I  did  not  venture  to  do  that ;  but  Mr.  Rodney  had 
touched  the  most  powerful  spring  of  self-control,  and  I  did 
raise  my  head  and  leaned  it  against  Kate.  And  then — 
it  might  /have  been  because  I  thought  myself  so  strong  in 
my  resolution — something  in  the  touch, of  her  arms  as  she 
put  them  round  me,  threw  down  all  my  defences ;  and  I 
burst  into  such  tears  as  I  never  meant  she  should  see. 

I  could  have  chidden  myself  then,  severely  ;  but  no  one 
else  attempted  it, — unless  I  could  feel  reproved  by  other 
tears,  which  fell  as  fast  as  mine,  or  by  the  exceeding  love 
and  gentleness  of  the  attempts  which  were  made  to  soothe 
us  both.  They  were  successful  at  last,  and  I  rested  wearily 
from  the  excitement  which  had  tried  too  severely  my  half- 
regained  strength.  If  anything  could  have  put  the  mind 
to  rest  as  well,  it  would  have  been  the  fond  lips  that  now 
and   then  kissed  my  forehead,  and  the  consciousness  that 


DOLLARS  AND   CENTS.  '  461 

they  were  trembling  yet.  So  Mr.  Rodney  left  us ;  but 
the  moment  he  rose  1  looked  up  at  him. 

"  Mr.  Rodney — have  I  troubled  you  very  much  ?" 

There  was  no  chiding,  there  was  nothing  but  sympathy 
in  the  eyes  that  answered  even  before  his  words  did. 

"  Not  more  than  you  could  help,  dear  Gracie." 

"  I  am  verv  sorry  ! — you  must  not  think — please  do 
not!—" 

"  Please  do  not  think  that  you  love  Kate  a  bit  too  much  ]" 
said  he  smiling.  "  I  am  in  no  danger  of  it,  though  you 
give  me  the  credit  of  knowing  so  little  about  her.  And  as 
to  her  love  for  you — I'm  afraid  I  must  submit  to  that  as  a 
necessary  part  of  human  nature.  Katie,  cannot  you  per- 
suade this  child  to  adopt  my  philosophy  V 

There  is  a  great  comfort  in  being  understood, — the  mere 
assurance  that  I  might  feel  as  I  chose,  made  me  feel  as  I 
could  have  w^ished  ;  and  I  returned  Mr.  Rodney's  parting 
shake  of  the  hand  with  a  very  much  brighter  mood  than 
the  one  in  which  I  had  greeted  him. 

I  had  no  desire  to  ask  many  questions,  nor  in  truth  much 
need, — it  seemed  as  if  my  mind  had  answered  them  all  to 
itself ;  and  I  lay  silent  and  C[uiet  in  Kate's  arms  for  a  long 
time,  going  over  the  last  two  years  wonderingly. 

"  Gracie  !"  she  said  at  length. 

My  arm  which  was  round  her  waist  answered  for  me 
that  1  was  awake. 

"  I  want  to  hear  your  voice  again,  darling,  very  much." 

"I  will  say  everything  you  want  me  to,  Katie — by  and 
by" — was  all  I  could  say  then. 

"  Are  you  quite  sure  1" 

"Quite!  But  oh  Katie!  why  didn't  you  tell  me 
before  f 

"  My  dear  Gracie !  how  could  I  ? — I  had  not  the  heart  to 
speak  of  it  after  your  dream — especially  when  there  has 
been  so  much  else  to  trouble  you.  But  for  that  you  should 
have  known  it  long  ago.  And  lately  you  have  been  so 
unwell." 

"  I  am  very  glad  !" 

And  wrapping  her  in  an  embrace  so  close  that  it  half 
belied  my  words,  and  with  her  head  bent  down  and  resting 
upon  mine,  sleep  came  to  me  without  asking. 


462  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

".Well  little  dormouse,"  said  Mr.  Howard  who  stood  by 
us  when  J  awoke.  "  Have  you  quite  slept  off  the  '  winter 
of  your  discontent'  V 

"I  haven't  uncurled  myself  yet,  papa." 

"  I  wonder  if  it's  the  fashion  for  dormice  to  look  pale," 
said  my  father  kissing  me. 


DOLLARS  AXD    C^STS.  463 


CHAPTER    XLVII. 


Xor  have  I  yet  the  narrow  mind 
To  vent  that  poor  desire 
That  others  should  not  warm  them  at  mj-  flre: 

I  wish  the  sun  should  shine 
On  all  men's  fruits  and  flowers  aa  well  as  minti. 

Ben  Jossow, 


I  WAS  awakened  from  my  dream  now — thoroughly  ;  tho 
only  wonder  was  that  it  had  lasted  so  long.  I  marvelled 
at  my  own  want  of  penetration.  And  yet  the  simple, 
familiar,  almost  brother-and-sister  intercourse  which  had 
gone  on  for  years,  had  changed  so  gradually — so  slightly 
unless  one  took  just  the  right  point  of  view — that  my  mis- 
take seemed  after  all,  but  natural. 

For  a  while  J  was  in  a  perfect  hedge  of  constraint.  List- 
less and  weary,  but  with  a  constant  effort  to  seem  neither, 
— doubtful  where  to  be  or  what  to  do, — having  no  spirits 
to  go  out,  and  a  great  fear  of  being  in  the  way,  within, — 
that  first  week  was  one  of  trial.  1  could  not  bear  to  look 
anybody  in  the  face — least  of  all  those  two  who  most  anx- 
iously scanned  mine  ;  and  the  very  fear  of  troubling  them, 
troubled  me  more  than  anything.  Yet  my  hedge  could 
not  but  give  way  before  their  gentle  endeavours. 

I  would  not  venture  to  assert  that  they  were  never  with- 
out my  company,  but  there  was  little  appearance  of  it.  In 
all  the  long  walks  and  talks  where  I  was  drawn  in  by  one 
or  the  other,  Mr.  Rodney  seemed  at  least  as  unforgetful  of 
"his  sister"  as  of  mine, — always  best  pleased  to  have  us 
both  with  him,  and  assuming  as  he  said,  somewhat  of  a 
brother's  authority  in  the  way  of  taking  care  of  me  and 
making  me  take  care  of  myself.  Seldom  as  I  was  left 
alone  to  my  musings,  I  was  never  indulged  hi  them  unless 
alone ;  and  often  with  my  hand  and  Kate's  held  together 


464  DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS. 

in  his,  Mr.  Rodney  made  me  talk  whether  I  would  or 
not. 

And  this  gentle  consideration  softened,  O  how  much, 
what  would  else  have  been  so  bitter.  We  were  not 
separated  yet — I  l^new  w^e  never  should  be,  in  hejvrt ;  and  I 
was  half  beguiled  into  being  happy  in  spite  of  myself. 
Never  had  Kate  seemed  to  love  me  so  much, — never  had  I 
so  clung  to  her.  Well  for  me  that  my  love  reached  the  point 
it  did, — had  it  flillen  a  little  short  it  might  have  been  selfish. 
But  I  was  right — ^I  could  not  be  miserable  if  she  was 
happy. 

It  was  some  time  before  I  ventured  to  ask  when  they  were 
to  be  married:  many  a  time  my  lips  formed  the  words, 
but  uttered  they  could  not  be ;  and  the  rest  of  the  family 
had  seen  fit  to  follow  my  lead.  Yet  I  must  know — I  must 
find  out, — that  indefinite  dread  was  worse  than  any  cer- 
tainty ;  and  one  day  when  Mrs.  Howard  had  left  me  alone 
for  a  few  minutes,  I  took  the  desperate  resolution  of  asking 
her  the  moment  she  came  back, —  I  would  end  these  weary- 
ing doubts  at  all  hazards.  And  the  moment  the  door 
opened,  I  said  in  a  voice  that  might  of  itself  have  told  my 
question, 

"  Mamma — how  soon" — 

But  something  in  the  step  made  me  turn  round, — it  was 
Mr.  Collingwood. 

"  How  soon  what,  Gracie  ?"  he  said,  coming  behind  my 
chair  and  laying  a  hand  upon  either  side  of  my  face. 
"  What  do  you  want  to  know  1  cannot  I  answer  you  as  well 
as  Mrs.  Howard  V 

Ay — but  I  could  not  ask  him. 

"  What  were  you  inquiring  about  V  he  said  kindly, — 
"  anything  that  concerns  the  person  you  and  I  love  so 
much  1  how  soon  I  am  going  to  take  her  away — was  that  it  ?" 

"  Yes,"  I  said  under  my  breath. 

"  Gracie,  would  it  be  a  harder  parting  in  summer  wea- 
ther when  you  could  see  her  every  day,  than  in  winter — 
when  storms  must  often  keep  you  at  homel" 

I  had  no  need  to  ask  more,  and  yet  I  did. 

"Have  I  the  alternative,  Mr.  Rodney  1" 

"  I  hope  not,"  he  said  gently. 

But  "  summer  weather"  ! — it  was  almost  that  now !     I 


DOLLARS  ASD   CESTS.  465 

had  not  expected  quite  such  an  answer, — or  rather,  as  has 
been  well  said,  I  '*  did  not  know  how  much  hope  had  sur- 
vived within  me  till  I  felt  its  death-blow."  Had  I  been 
alone  my  excitement  might  have  found  its  way  in  tears, 
but  they  did  not  come  now;  and  the  quick  beating  of  my 
he-art  was  all  I  could  hear — almost  all  I  could  feel, — I  felt 
that  to  my  very  finger-ends. 

'•  My  poor  child  '.*'  Mr.  Rodney  said,  '•'  I  thought  you  had 
made  up  your  mind  to  this. — does  it  grieve  vou  so  much 
still?" 

"  No,"  I  said,  struggling  with  myself,  "  it  does  not  grieve 
me,  at  all — except — sometimes." 

"  Those  times  will  be  less  frequent  in  the  dreaded  sum- 
mer weather  than  they  are  now,  dear,  I  trust.  It  is  only  a 
slight  remove,  Gracie, — you  must  not  call  it  a  separation. 
It  will  not  be  that, — unless  you  are  a  perverse  little  sister 
and  refuse  to  feel  at  home  in  your  brother's  house.  Have 
you  had  a  walk  to-dav  V 

'•  Xo  sir." 

"  Then  what  if  you  were  to  tell  Katie  that  Mrs.  Barstow 
begged  me  to  bring  '  those  dear  young  ladies'  to  see  her 
again,  and  that  I  am  going  there  this  morning." 

I  sprang  away  to  give  the  message,  choking  down  my 
thoughts  that  Kate  might  not  see  them,  and  with  the  full 
intention  of  not  coming  back;  but  she  would  take  no  denial, 
and  I  could  only  get  ready  and  follow  her  down  stairs. 
"Where  Wolfgang  had  nigh  put  me  in  hysterics.  For  as  it 
was  a  mild  day  the  door  stood  open,  and  the  aforesaid 
member  of  society  had  planted  hiaiself  on  the  outside,  hav- 
ing received  no  permission  to  enter.  But  the  appearance 
of  Kate  was  considered  invitation  enough, — the  dog  rushed 
in,  and  after  making  of  himself  a  frisking  barrier  for  some 
moments,  sat  gravely  down  and  presented  his  paw  to  Kate 
before  she  could  even  shake  hands  with  his  master. 

The  laugh  which  ensued  was  almost  too  much  for  me ; 
and  a  mere  negative  composure  was  all  I  could  attain  for 
some  time.  But  before  we  were  half-way  up  Pillimaquady, 
I  was  again  talked  into  being  happy  in  spite  of  myself 

"We  could  not  wonder  at  Mrs.  Barstow's  love  for  Mr. 
Collingwood — he  seemed  the  very  spirit  of  sunlight  in  that 
dark  little  cabin;   a   sunlight  so   pure,  so   pervading,  so 

20* 


466  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

brightening  to  the  darkest  thing  it  touched,  that  the  mind's 
eye  looked  wonderingly.  Even  the  children  felt  its  influ- 
ence, and  forgetting  their  rags  and  their  shyness  they  came 
out  from  their  corners,  and  stood  near  the  well-dressed  gen- 
tleman to  see  and  hear  him  more  distinctly.  And  then 
when  he  looked  at  them — though  they  knew  him  pretty 
well  too — the  smiling  glance  of  his  eye  and  pleasant  word 
would  make  them  smile  in  return — shamefacedly  ;  and  fall 
huddling  back  upon  each  other  until  he  turned  his  head, — 
when  they  were  again  drawn  forward  by  some  irresistible 
magnet. 

With  what  pleasure  we  saw  it  all !  And  I — it  seemed 
to  me  that  I  had  as  much  to  rejoice  in  as  anybody.  To  see 
Kate  anything  but  happy  had  been  almost  the  greatest  trial 
I  had  ever  thought  of;  and  now  to  have  her  happiness  so 
well  secured — even  to  my  jealous  fears — was  very  pure  de- 
light.— Not  unmingled,  but  unalloyed. 

I  sat  a  little  back  from  the  rest,  looking  at  them  and 
thinking  it  all  over.  I  remembered  what  Mr.  Ellis  had 
once  said,  that  there  was  just  one  person  who  ought  to  have 
the  charge  of  that  neighbourhood,  and  he  the  one  who  was 
now  to  take  it.  Truly  I  had  no  doubt  on  the  subject ;  but 
as  I  looked  at  the  sweet  face  by  him,  I  thought  there  would 
be  more  than  one  place  well  filled..  Mr.  Rodney  had  con- 
trived to  bring  her  forward,  and  to  place  her  in  not  quite 
the  seat  she  would  have  chosen ;  and  I  half  fancied  that  the 
reason  thereof  was  not  unguessed.  It  was  easy  to  read 
Mrs.  Barstow's  loish^ — the  expression  of  her  face  was  some- 
times a  little  too  much  for  Kate's  equanimity  ;  and  her  eyes 
w^ent  from  one  to  the  other  with  a  look  that  said  her  own 
trials  were  all  out  of  sight.  There  could  hardly  have  been 
a  better  cure  for  them  than  the  conversation  she  had  with 
Mr.  Rodney,  or  than  his  prayer  before  we  came  away. 

"  He  often  comes,"  she  said  when  Kate  and  I  were  bid- 
ding her  goodbye,  and  our  companion  was  speaking  to  Mrs. 
Elinter.  "  Think  of  him  never  forgetting  us  and  he  so 
much  else  to  think  of! — he's  been  a'most  every  time  he's 
been  home  !  Ah  Miss  Howard,  poor  folks  wants  more  than 
money  ! — and  'tain't  often  as  rich  folks  knows  what  to  give 
'em.  And  now  he'll  be  here  always !  1  never  thought  to 
see  that." 


DOLLARS  AXD   CESTS.  467 

We  left  them,  and  coming  down  the  hill  found  near  tha 
foot  a  seat  so  pleasant,  that  we  felt  tired  at  once  and  sat 
down  to  rest.  Everything  was  in  great  beauty  ; — the  trees 
not  far  enough  out  to  quite  merge  in  each  other,  shewed  in 
soft  green  tufts  on  every  hill-side  where  the  plough  and  the 
axe  had  not  been ;  and  the  cleared  land  was  in  colours  as 
diversified  as  its  own  ups  and  downs  of  surface.  Sometimes 
a  patch  of  winter  grain  in  that  luxuriant  state  between 
youth  and  middle-age,  came  over  a  roll  of  land  into  th© 
valley  and  ascended  it  might  be  another  rising,  following 
every  turn  and  change  with  its  spread  of  green  the  most 
vivid,  the  most  beautiful !  one  uniform  tint,  unless  where 
the  wind  waved  it  or  a  shadow^  fell.  Light  clouds  passed 
occasionally  across  the  sky,  throwing  as  light  and  fantastic 
shades,  that  danced  off  the  moment  they  touched  the  earth, 
to  be  succeeded  by  others.  The  birds  were  joyful  as  only 
birds  can  be;  but  we  were  joyful  too — yet  with  a  differ- 
ence. Now  the  young  leaves  flapped  softly  over  our  heads, 
and  now  the  wind  died  quite  away,  to  come  again  with  new 
freshness. 

"  That  is  a  singularly  happy  person,"  Kate  said  when  we 
had  sat  musing  for  a  while. 

"  Yes^f  you  mean  uncommonly, — in  one  sense  there  is 
nothing  singular  about  her  happiness." 

"  Do  you  think  so  Mr.  Rodney  ? — in  that  absolute  rising 
above  all  circumstance  and  suffering?" — 

"  Is  it  strange  dear  Kate,  that  now  and  then  one  should 
reach  a  point  which  all  may  attain  1" 

The  starting  tears  were  her  only  answer. 

*'  It  will  do  for  me  to  talk  about  it,"  he  said  presently, — 
**I,  who  have  nothing  left  to  wish  for  in  this  world, — I  fear 
I  should  have  been  a  poor  example  of  my  own  precepts. 
But  Katie,  they  are  true,  nevertheless.  The  soul  whose 
balance  depends  on  circumstance,  hath  not  a  firm  enough 
hold  on  the  Rock  of  ages." 

"  Yes,  I  know  that — I  have  felt  it — how  often !"  said 
Kate.  "  One  realizes  the  worth  of  a  thing  sometimes  more 
by  its  want  than  its  possession." 

"Wesley  did  not  go  beyond  the  truth  when  he  said, 

"  '  Jesus,  to  whom  I  fly, 

Will  all  my  wishes  fill, — 


468  DOLLARS  AND  CEXTS. 

"What  thonorh  created  streams  be  dry — 
I  have  the  fountain  stiH.' — 

But  we  look  away  from  the  fountain,  and  think  of  the 
streams, — most  of  all  when  they  are  full.  That  is  one 
reason  why  so  few  reach  Mrs.  Barstow's  high  stand  above 
the  world — the  tide  of  happiness  often  bears  us  the  wrong 
way." 

"  Grade  dear,"  said  Kate  after  a  pause,  "  what  are  you 
looking  so  grave  about  V 

"  Thinking — "  I  said,  starting  out  of  my  reverie  which 
had  fastened  upon  her  last  words.  What  possible  lessons 
would  the  want  of  my  sister  teach  me  % 

"Thinking?  of  what?  Look  up  at  me — you  are  tired, 
dear." 

"  No  not  a  bit." 

"  When  I  was  almost  a  child,  Gracie,"  said  Mr.  Colling- 
wood,  "  some  one  gave  me  a  beautiful  Daphne.  It  was 
my  perfect  pride  and  delight, — I  kept  it  in  my  own  room 
upstairs,  gave  it  every  possible  attention,  and  often  sat 
watching  it  as  if  it  had  been  a  living  companion.  But  one 
day  when  I  had  been  talking  to  my  mother  of  the  pink 
buds  that  were  unfolding  one  after  the  other,  she  told  me 
that  so  lovely  a  plant  deserved  a  larger  room  ;  and  that  if 
I  brought  it  down  into  the  parlour,  other  people  could  see 
and  enjoy  it  too.  I  remember  my  plea  that  /was  oftenest 
upstairs — and  her  smile  when  she  answered  '  that  makes  no 
difference', — I  can  understand  it  well  now  ! — Cannot  you, 
Gracie  ?" 

I  understood  it  all, — but  I  fear  my  smile  was  a  little 
qualified.  It  was  answered  very  kindly,  and  he  went 
on. 

"  There  was  one  judgment  that  I  never  thought  of  ques- 
tioning, and  my  Daphne  was  placed  in  the  parlour  that  very 
day, — but  it  seemed  as  if  my  own  room  had  lost  half 
its  furniture.  And  yet  I  could  hardly  regret  it.  My  fli- 
vourite  was  so  abundantly  admired,  its  sphere  of  pleasure- 
giving  was  so  much  enlarged,  its  sweetness  spread  so  much 
further — I  had  to  be  content  with  the  change ;  and  though 
my  little  room  looked  empty  when  I  went  into  it,  if  I  set 
the  door  open  my  Daphne  was  never  long  in  finding  me 
out." 


DOLLARS  AM)   CEXTS.  469 

I  sat  looking  along  the  road  in  a  mood  too  touched,  too 
sorrowful,  too  comforted  to  speak. 

"  What  made  you  think  of  this  story  V  said  Kate,  who 
having  missed  the  clue,  had  taken  it  all  in  straightforward 
simplicity. 

But  Mr.  Rodney  only  smiled,  and  telling  her  that  it 
would  be  hard  to  account  for  it  except  by  the  association 
of  ideas,  we  got  up  and  pursued  our  walk, — warned  by 
one  or  two  little  pats  on  the  forehead  that  April  showers 
might  come  down  in  May.  Happily  they  did  not  then, 
and  we  met  no  interruption  till  it  was  furnished  by  Mr. 
Harrington  ;  who  instead  of  passing  us  with  his  usual  pe- 
culiar greeting,  on  his  way  home  to  dinner,  stopped  shoit. 
As  there  was  by  this  time  a  reasonably  large  umbrella  of 
blue  sky  over  our  heads,  we  stopped  too. 

'•  I've  been  away  to  the  Glen  to  find  you  Mr.  Colling- 
wood,"  said  Ezra,  "  and  they  said  you  wa'n't  there — so  I 
gin  to  think  folks  was  nigh  as  much  out  of  the  way  as 
things." 

'•  What  is  the  matter  ]"  said  Mr.  Rodney. 

'•  Matter  enough  !"  replied  Ezra  with  a  gloomy  air, — "  I 
don't  rightly  know  what  to  do  with  myself  nor  the  farm 
nother.  Why  there  ain't  no  two  ways  about  it  sir  I — a 
place  can't  be  took  care  of  without  there's  sunthin'  done  to 
it — tliat's  as  plain  as  my  name  in  capitals." 

"Very  plain  indeed,"  said  Mr.  Rodney,  whose  face  by- 
no  means  reflected  the  gloom;  "but  what  is  in  the  way- 
Mr.  Harrington  ?" 

'•  Land  knows,  sir ! — Fm  beat,  for  once.  Seems  to  me 
as  all  the  rail  fences  is  made  o'  muskits,  and  every  wood- 
chuck  in  the  hull  of  them  a  pinter !  No  offence  Mr.  Col- 
lingwood,  but  you  see  if  two  men  sends  their  guns  differ- 
ent ways,  like  enough  one  on  'em  '11  get  hit." 

"  Well,  tell  me  what  the  guns  are,  and  then  I  shall  be 
able  to  judge,"  said  Mr.  Collingwood  with  a  smile  that 
quieted  Ezra's  scruples. 

"Why  sir  Mr.  Carvill  ain't  a  mind  to  have  nothin'  done, 
no  place. — '  Don't  dreen  that  'ere  mash'  he  says,  '  'cause 
the  woodcocks  likes  it,' — and  '  don't  plough  that  'ere  field 
'cause  the  quails  wants  it  jus'  so.'  And  t'other  day  he 
ketched  'Lisha  scareu   the   patridges  off  the   wheat,  and 


470  DOLLARS  AND   CEXTS. 

'what  on  airth  are  you  doing  that  for?'  he  says, — 'leave  it 
alone  in  the  name  of  all  the  royal  family,'  he  says,  '  the 
more  they  eat  the  flitter  they'll  be.'  " 

While  Mr.  Rodney  endeavoured  to  bring  his  muscles 
into  speaking  order,  Ezra  took  bi-eath  and  went  on. 

"  When  he  was  down  a  spell  ago  he  went  on  pretty 
reasonable  like,  but  it's  my  belief  he'd  blaze  away  at  the 
chickens  now,  if  there  wa'n't  nothin'  else  !  And  it's  as 
clear  as  a  commentary  to  my  mind,  that  if  the  birds  is  to 
have  the  hull  o'  the  farm  there  won't  long  be  gunpowder 
to  shoot  'em — without  it  grows  some  place  else  than  here. 
So  that's  just  how  it  is  sir,"  concluded  Mr.  Barrlngton  with 
a  look  and  tone  of  honest  vexation.  "I  thought  maybe 
you  could  do  sunthin' — and  if  not — why  so.  I  don't  want 
to  meddle  nor  make,  I'm  sure." 

"  So  am  I  sure  of  it,"  said  Mr.  Rodney.  "  You  must 
do  whatever  you  think  best  with  the  farm, — I  will  speak  to 
my  brother  about  it.  Follow  your  own  judgment  on  all 
points  unless  you  hear  from  me  again." 

"  Thank'ee  sir,"  said  Ezra.  "  I  should  like  to  see  myself 
doing  anythin'  I  d'uhi't  think  best !"  he  added  with  a  shake 
of  the  head  that  was  aimed  at  Mr.  Harrington  neorlecting 
his  duty.  "  Why  them  patridges  has  been  scared  out  o' 
their  wits  regular,  ever  sen !  He  don't  go  to  the  same 
place  above  once  a  quarter.  But  now  Mr.  Collingwood,  if 
I  go  on  and  dreen  that  'ere  bit  o'  swamp — maybe  you've 
heerd  tell  what's  the  likeliest  thing  to  put  onto  it.  Old 
Squire  Brown  says  'tain't  good  for  nothin' ;  but  my  eyes 
are  as  straight  as  hisn  ;  and  /  know  it  'ud  be  first-rate  if  I 
could  only  fix  it." 

"  What  swamp  is  it  V 

"It's  just  that  wet  bit  'long  side  o'  Squire  Howard's 
land." 

"  Beyond  the  pine  wood  1  I  should  think  lime  would 
be  the  best  thing  to  put  on  it,  Mr.  Barrington,  if  I  re- 
member what  the  soil  is." 

"  Lime  sir !"  ejaculated  Ezra  with  an  astonished  face. 
"  Then  you're  clean  out  for  once,  Squire  Collingwood, 
— lime  ain't  no  count  on  this  farm,  anyhow." 

'•  Wliat  makes  you  think  so  V  said  Mr.  Rodney  with  a 
biuilc  at  his  unwonted  appellation. 


I)OLLARS  AXD   CEMS.  471 

"Reason  good,  sir,  I've  tried  it.  I  sowed  lime  on  that 
'ere  side-hill  beyond  the  clearing,  and  it  wa'n't  a  speck  of 
use  but  harm.'' 

"  I  dare  say,"  replied  his  adviser  ;  "  but  that  land  is  very 
different  from  the  swamp.  It  has  been  found  out,  Mr. 
Harrington,  that  on  some  soils  lime  will  destroy  the  bad 
qualities  and  improve  the  land,  while  to  others  it  does 
nothing  but  mischief.  I  am  pretty  sure  you  will  like  the 
effect  of  lime  upon  that  swamp  after  your  drains  are 
finished  ;  and  then  I  would  sow  Timothy  and  June  grass." 

'•ril  put  'em  all  on,  for  sartain  !"  said  Ezra,  whose  sur- 
prise did  not  seem  to  abate.  "Edication's  a  wonderful 
thing !  And  you'll  tell  Mr.  Carvill,  sir,  that  the  woodcocks 
has  got  to  move  house  ?" 

"1  will  speak  to  him  about  it,  certainly." 

And  we  were  permitted  to  walk  bn. 

"  Well  you  have  surely  studied  a  variety  of  things  !" 
said  Kate.  "  Such  comprehensive  education  is  a  little  won- 
derful." 

"You  forget  how  much  I  once  had  to  do  with  hay-fields," 
said  Mr.  Collingwood  with  a  very  amused  face. 

"  And  you  have  not  forgotten  that  talk  about  the  coat 
yet  1" 

"  Not  quite,"  said  he  smiling, — "  nor  the  time  when  I 
was  '  only  a  farmer,'  Katie." 

"But  we  never  saw  you  in  a  hay-field,"  said  I — for  Kate 
did  not  seem  disposed  to  speak.  "  How  should  we  remem- 
ber that  you  ever  knew  anything  about  the  matter  1" 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  Gracie,  that  if  you  ever  had  seen 
me  there,  swaths  and  winrows  would  be  unpleasant  to  think 
off' 

"  Yes,  very,"  said  Kate  laughing — "  I  don't  believe  you 
ever  were  there,  for  my  part.  But  now  I  was  not  so  far 
wrong, — one  must  judge  a  little  by  the  occupations  of  a 
person — till  one  has  something  else  to  judge  by.  If  a  man 
is  only  a  farmer,  he  w^ill  always  be  only  a  farmer — in  all 
probability." 

"  Therefore  you  see,  Katie,  that  it  is  necessary  to  set 
that  little  seal  only  just  in  the  right  place.  Otten  the 
world  knows  but  half  of  a  man's  doings,  and  not  a  quarter 
of  the  reason  for  those.     Some  people  undertake  certain 


472  DOLLARS  AND  CENTS. 

business  only  because  they  must ;  and  though  that  is  not 
generally  the  case,  yet  in  this  country  the  safest  maxim  is 
*men  and  not  things.'  " 

"1  wonder  \vhat  else  papa  has  amused  himself  with  tell- 
ing YOU  1"  she  said  with  a  half  laughing  half  doubtful  shake 
of  the  head.  "  But  if  I  had  learned  no  wisdom  by  our 
years  of  experience,  I  should  deserve  to  be  thought  anything 
of" 

The  smile  which  answered  her  might  have  been  translated, 
*'  And  as  it  is,  for  '  anything'  read  everything." 

"  What  do  you  think  of  a  little  practical  wisdom  in  the 
•way  of  getting  out  of  these  rain-drops,  Miss  Daphne  ?" 
said  Mr.  Colli ngwood. 

She  looked  up  in  surprise,  but  then  finding  the  clue  she 
had  wanted  before,  her  resemblance  to  the  very  delicately- 
tinted  "  Odorata"  decidedly  decreased  ;  and  as  her  eyes 
went  back  to  the  view  before  us,  Kate  gravely  remarked 
that  it  "  w^as  raining  very  fast  at  Wiamee." 

"And  how  about  the  answer  to  my  demand  V  said  Mr. 
Rodney.  "  I  think  too  much  dampness  does  not  agree 
with  the  members  of  your  family." 

"  I'm  afi-aid  it  is  not  very  practicable  wisdom — the  trees 
would  be  but  doubtful  shelter." 

"There  used  to  be  a  house  somewhere  near  here — a 
little  further  down  the  road, — yes,  I  see  the  smoke  now." 

"  O  it's  Mrs.  Houghton's," — I  said.  "  Don't  you  re- 
member, Kate?  We  w^ent  there  one  day  last  summer 
with  mamma." 

"  Hamilton,  it  used  to  be." 

"  It's  Houghton  now,  Mr.  Rodney — we  can  go  there.  I 
only  hope  her  desire  to  see  us  again  has  not  died  out." 

To  all  appearance  it  was  in  full  force.  One  might  have 
thought  Mrs.  Houghton's  house  a  desert,  from  the  way  she 
rejoiced  over  the  showier. 

"  If  it'll  only  pour  down  till  supper-time,"  she  said,  "  I 
shall  be  too  tickled  for  anything!  Miss  Howard  there  ain't 
a  doubt  on  my  mind  that  your  shoes  is  wet.  No  ? — can't 
be  they're  dry.  Show  me  now.  Dry,  indeed !  do  tell  if 
that's  what  you  call  dry  down  to  your  house  !  Ain't  that 
soaking,  sir  V  she  said,  adroitly  slipping  off  Kate's  shoe 
and  displaying  the  sole  of  it. 


DOLLARS  AXD   CFSTS.  473 

"  It  looks  a  little  damp,  certainly,"  said  Mr.  Rodney 
smiling. 

"Now  what'll  you  do? — sit  up  to  the  fire  and  toast 
your  feet  while  the  shoes  is  drying." 

"But  our  feet  are  quite  warm,"  said  Kate,  "and  the 
shoes  dry  enough." 

"Don't  tell  me!"  said  Mrs.  Houghton, — "can't  be,  you 
know, — if  it  could  why  I  expect  it  might.  They  ain't  so 
big  you  need  mind  having  'em  looked  at." 

And  carefully  setting  up  our  shoes  in  the  fireplace,  Kate 
and  I  had  no  resource  but  to  put  our  feet  in  the  same 
region  ;  for  the  currents  of  air  were  rather  cool  with  stock- 
ings for  a  medium. 

Mrs.  Houghton  looked  on  with  great  satisfaction ;  and 
then  drawing  up  a  rocking-chair  and  planting  her  heels 
firmly  on  the  floor,  she  proceeded  to  rock  herself  and  her 
toes  vigorously  through  the  air, — talking  the  while  with 
equal  animation.  She  was  a  rather  tall  and  slim  woman, 
scrupulously  neat  in  her  dark  stuff*  dress ;  but  with  dress 
and  hair  too,  in  that  state  which  sailors  call  "cleared  for 
action."  Mrs.  Houghton  might  have  put  herself  through 
any  gymnastics  without  much  discomposure  of  externals. 
Her  flice  was  very  busy  and  cute  ;  good-humoured  too,  and 
rather  good-looking ;  and  seemed  to  say  that  instead  of 
being  disturbed  by  difficulties  she  would  find  a  way  to  get 
over  them.  Her  house  had  as  comfortable  and  get-on  a 
look  as  herself;  and  that  the  progress  of  the  rest  of  tho 
world  was  not  forgotten,  might  be  guessed  from  the  weekly 
newspaper  and  monthly  magazines  which  lay  on  the  table, 
as  a  sort  of  light  advanced-guard  to  the  very  primly 
arranged  books  by  the  wall.  From  the  moment  of  our 
coming  in,  Mrs.  Houghton  had  taken  Mr.  Collingwood  for 
our  brother;  and  our  intention  of  undeceiving  her  was  soon 
put  to  flight, — indeed  to  speak  without  interrupting  the 
lady  of  the  house  was  for  some  time  no  easy  matter. 

"  Don't  it  beat  the  world,"  she  said,  "  that  Parson  Ellis 
should  be  going  away  1  I  never  was  so  cut  up  about  any- 
thing!    Ain't  you  as  sorry  as  can  be?" 

"  But  he  is  only  going  to  Ethan,"  said  Kate, — "  we  hope 
to  see  him  very  often." 

"  What's  the  good  of  seein'  a  man  if  you  can't  hear  him  *?'* 


474  LOLLARS  AND   CEyTS. 

said  Mrs.  Houghton  disdainfull  v.  "  His  explanations  went 
beyond  everything." 

'•  1  am  very  glad  you  like  him  so  much !"  said  Mr.  Col- 
lingwood  warmly.  "But  perhaps  he  may  preach  here 
often,  still,  Mrs.  Houghton." 

"  Won't  get  a  chance," — she  said  with  a  toss  of  her  head. 
"As  if  that  young  one  would  st.iy  out  of  the  first  pulpit  he 
ever  had  a  right  to  be  in  ! — they  say  he's  a  dreadful  hand- 
some young  feller  too — with  eyes  like  nobody  knows 
Avhat." 

Why  we  did  not  astonish  our  hostess  with  a  perfect 
shout  of  laughter,  is  to  this  day  a  mystery ;  for  if  her 
words  wanted  any  set-off,  it  was  furnished  by  the  quick 
flash  of  the  eyes  in  question  as  they  sought  first  ours  and 
then  the  floor.  If  the  rain  had  been  anything  less  than 
pouring,  I  think  we  should  have  taken  French  leave  and 
rushed  out.  Fortunately  for  us,  ^.Irs.  Houghton  looked  not 
to  see  the  effect  of  her  speech,  but  began  another. 

"  The  little  sense  folks  have  passes  credibility  ! — for  as 
I  say  to  my  husband,  what's  the  odds? — whether  his  hair 
curls  or  whether  it's  straight  or  whether  it's  crooked  ?  and 
if  his  eyes  are  brown  he  could  see  just  as  well  out  of  'em 
if  they  were  green. — I  don't  go  to  meeting  to  see  personal 
appearance — if  I  did  I  could  stay  home.  There  ain't  a 
spryer  lookin'  man  in  town  than  he  was  when  I  stood  up 
with  him." 

"But  don't  you  like  Mr.  Ellis's  looks'?"  I  said  with  a 
desperate  effort. 

"  I  guess  I  do !  but  there's  something  of  him,  bless  you  ! 
He  ain't  so  tall  as  t'other  one  neither,  they  say.  Well — 
the  earth's  always  rolling  about  some  way, — as  I  tell  my 
husband,  'tain't  much  wonder  if  folks  once  in  a  while 
knocks  their  heads  together." 

"  I  don't  believe  that  will  ever  happen  to  Mr.  Ellis  and 
Mr.  Collingwood,"  said  Kate  smiling, — "they  like  each 
other  too  well." 

"Think  so? — well — don't  you  know  nothing  else  about 
him?  don't  you  sir?" 

"I  know  something  about  him,"  said  Mr.  Rodney  look- 
ing gravely  up  from  the  carpet. 

"Tell  on  then,  do." 


DOLLARS  AND   CEXTS.  475 

"  I  think  you  had  better  get  acquainted  with  him  first, 
Mrs.  Houghton,"'  said  he  smiling.  "  It  is  not  good  to  be 
prepossessed  either  for  or  against  people.  Are  you  afraid 
of  the  weather  now  ?"'  he  added,  looking  at  us. 

'•  Them  shoes  hasn't  an  idea  of  being  dry,"  said  Mrs. 
Houghton  interposing,  and  setting  the  shoes  down  again 
decisivelv.  ''Is  the  new  minister  a  going  to  preach  next 
Sunday  ?'' 

'•  So  I  have  been  told,"  said  Kate. 

"  WJiat  did  you  call  him  ?" 

"Mr.  Colllngwood." 

"  I've  put  his  name  in  my  head  about  twenty  times,  and 
it  won't  stay,  I  expect  Til  call  him  Ellis  the  first  time  I 
see  him — or  maybe  Fowler — that  was  my  last  minister's 
name  before  I  moved  here.  I  always  do  just  so — I'd  been 
married  ever  so  long  before  I  could  remember  my  own 
name.  And  we'll  hear  liim  next  Sunday,  you  say  ?  I 
wonder  what's  the  use  of  a  man's  tryin'  to  preach  till  he's 
old  enough  to  know  a  little  about  himself! — ^let  alone  other 
folks." 

"  But,"  said  Mr.  Rodney,  "  if  men  were  not  to  begin 
preaching  till  they  were  as  old  as  Mr.  Ellis,  they  could  not 
be  very  experienced  ministers  until  they  were  almost  too 
old  to  preach  at  all." 

"  Well" — said  Mrs.  Houghton  with  a  half  convinced  air ; 
— '•  maybe  so  and  maybe  no ;  but  it  would  take  a  smart 
man  to  stand  in  Mr.  Ellis's  shoes." 

"  He  is  most  excellent,  most  lovely !  you  cannot  love 
him  better  than  I  do." 

"  He's  got  such  a  sight  of  gumption,  too,"  continued  our 
hostess.  '•  Now  I  don't  care  to  go  to  meeting  without  I 
can  have  something  to  show  for  it, — I  tell  my  husband  it 
ain't  worth  the  trouble — though  he  don't  think  so, — I 
believe  he'd  go  if  there  wa'n't  nothing  there  but  the  meet- 
ing-house." 

'•And  the  minister — I  suppose,"  said  !^^r.  Rodney. 

"  Yes,  I  suppose  so,"  said  Mrs.  Houghton  with  a  some- 
what curious  side-look  at  her  guest.  '*  But  as  I  said  before, 
when  I  go  I  want  something  to  show  for  it." 

"  And  what  should  that  something  be  ?"  said  Mr.  Rodney 
as  he  rose  and  brought  the  full  earnestness  of  his  eyes  to 


476  DOLLARS  AXD   CENTS. 

bear  upon  her.  "  What  should  we  have  to  show  for  every- 
day we  live  as  well  as  every  sermon  we  hear?" 

"Sir?" — said  Mrs.  Houghton  as  her  look  became  graver 
and  then  fell  before  his.  '•  I  don't  know,  sir — I  should  be 
glad  to  have  you  say." 

'"Clearer  knowledge  of  God's  w^ill,  and  more  earnest  and 
heartfelt  practice  of  it,"  he  said  gently.  "Seek  that^  Mrs. 
Houghton,  and  then  whether  ministers  stay  or  go  neither 
sabbaths  nor  life  will  be  thrown  away." 

While  we  quietly  took  up  our  shoes  and  put  them  on, 
and  refastened  the  shawls  we  had  thrown  off,  Mrs.  Hough- 
ton neither  moved  nor  spoke,  nor  indeed  looked  except  at 
her  apron-string, — we  were  in  some  doubt  whether  she 
were  not  offended.  But  as  we  came  up  to  her  she  left  her 
seat  and  bade  us  goodbye  very  cordially. 

"  I've  enjoyed  your  visit  tip-top,"  she  said, — "  I  wish  you'd 
come  again.  And  you  too,  sir — we'd  be  as  glad  as  can  be 
to  see  you." 

"I  will  surely  come,"  said  Mr.  Collingwood  as  he  smi- 
lingly gave  her  his  hand.  "Let  me  be  a  friend  Mrs. 
Houghton,  little  as  I  deserve  to  succeed  Mr.  Ellis." 

"  Don't  tell  me  ! !"  exclaimed  our  hostess  with  a  face  of 
the  most  despairing  amazement.  "  Well  I  never  thought 
to  see  this  day  go  over  my  head  ! — it  ain't  possible  that  I've 
been  a  talking  to  the  new  minister  about  himself?" 

Mr.  Collingwood  laughed,  and  telling  her  that  it  had 
given  him  a  great  deal  of  pleasure  to  find  out  how  well 
Mr.  Ellis  was  appreciated,  he  opened  the  door ;  but  Mrs. 
Houghton  pulled  Kate  and  me  back  to  the  fire. 

"  Now  Miss  Howard,"  she  said,  "  for  gracious  \  tell-  him 
I  didn't  know  what  I  was  talking  about,  no  more  than  a 
baby.  My  stars  !  if  I  hadn't  found  out  till  I  w\as  hearing 
him  preach,  I  should  have  gone  right  down  through  the 
meeting-house  floor.  Why  I  didn't  know  him  from  Adam ! 
Well  I  do  feel  cheap !     Is  he  easy  affronted?" 

"  O  no— not  at  all !" 

"Do  tell!"  she  repeated  with  additional  emphasis. 
"  Well  if  ever  I  talk  to  a  living  soul  again  till  I  know  w^hat 
his  name  is,  my  name  ain't  Mary  Jemima  !" 

We  reached  home  without  further  adventure,  but  this  one 
left  us  no  want  of  merry  topics. 


DOLLARS  AXD   OENTS.  4T7 

"Grade,"  Mr.  Rodney  said,  as  he  stood  talking  for  a 
moment  in  our  little  sitting-room,  "  you  look  grave  in  the 
midst  of  your  laughing.  Are  you  thinking  still  of  that  re- 
mark of  Kate's  V 

"Not  just  now — I  was,  I  believe." 

"Cannot  you  put  it  into  your  little  head  that  'mine'  and 
'thine' are  not  always  separate  interests  and  possessions?" 

"  I  am  trying  very  hard,  Mr.  Rodney, — maybe  I  shall 
succeed  by  and  by.  And  indeed  I  would  not  keep  the 
Daphne  upstairs — sometimes  I  wish  it  could  be  in  both 
places." 


478  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 


CHAPTER    XLYIII, 


Are  ye  doin'  aught  weel  ?  are  ye  thrivin'  my  man  ? 

Be  thankful  to  Fortune  for  a'  thaf  she  sen's  ye ; 

Ye'll  hae  plenty  o'  frieu's  aye  to  offer  their  han', 

When  ye  needna  their  countenance — a'  body  kens  ye. 

A'  body  kens  ye, 

A'  body  kens  ye. 

When  ye  needna  their  countenance— a'  body  kens  ye 

Old  Song. 


IT  was  plain  that  most  people's  ideas  about  "  only"  were 
defective.  For  some  years  my  flither  had  been  only 
Mr.  Howard  struggling  on  against  difficulties, — now,  he  was 
Mr.  Howard  to  be  sure,  and  not  rich,  only  he  was  Greek 
professor  at  Ethan.  The  position  of  the  word  made  that 
of  the  family ;  and  the  sudden  affection  and  admiration 
with  which  we  were  regarded,  fairly  got  the  start  of 
reciprocity. 

"  Many  thanks !" — as  we  sometimes  said  after  the  de- 
parture of  a  carriage-load  of  visiters;  "but  the  friends  who 

'  When  winter  comes,  are  fled' — 

can  add  little  to  the  summer's  sunshine !"  Once  learn  the 
relative  weight  of  gold  and  tinsel  friendship,  and  all  the 
fair  show  of  the  latter  can  never  again  delude  you.  So  we 
made  whatever  advances  and  i-eturns  the  circumstances 
called  for,  talked  and  laughed  with  those  who  wished  to 
talk  and  laugh  with  us;  and  found  our  daily  happiness  in 
the  very  few  friends  and  things  that  had  kept  it  alive 
during  those  years  of  trial. 

Among  all  the  people  who  now  "  took  us  up,"  there 
were  perhaps  none  more  zealous  than  those  of  our  city- 
acquaintances  who  with  other  strangers  had  become  a  sort 
of  swallows  to  the  Moon,  and  swallowers  of  its  sulphu- 
retted  water.      To  be  sure   they    had    most  reason — had 


DOLLAES  AXD   CEXTS.  479 

known  us  longest — and  could  look  back  and  recollect  how 
they  had  "always  liked  us." 

The  day  of  our  involuntary  visit  to  Mrs.  Houghton, 
when  Kate  and  I  came  down  after  a  somewhat  long  and 
talkative  dinner-toilet  we  found  Mrs.  Willet  in  the  draw- 
ing-room. A  suspicion  of  somebody  there  had  hindered 
our  seeking  out  my  stepmother,  and  by  no  means  hurried 
our  motions. 

"  Here  they  come  at  last,"  said  the  lady.  "  Why  you 
look  like  May  roses — just  as  sweet  and  fresh  as  can  be." 

"How  long  have  you  been  home,  Kate?"  said  my  step- 
mother.    "  I  did  not  hear  you  come  in." 

"  Some  time,  mamma — we  have  been  dressing." 

Mrs.  Willet  examined  the  effects  thereof. 

"  That's  a  beautiful  silk  of  yours,  Kate — a  new  one  I 
suppose.  Suits  your  complexion  too — did  you  make  it 
yourself?" 

"  We  find  it  pleasanter  to  employ  a  dressmaker,"  was 
the  quiet  reply  from  Mrs.  Howard. 

"  Where  have  you  been  walking  ?"  said  Mrs.  Willet. 

"  In  the  neighbourhood  of  Wiamee,"  said  Kate,  by  no 
means  choosing  to  give  an  exact  answer. 

"  My  dearest  Kate !  you  do  not  mean  to  say  that  you 
and  Grace  have  walked  to  Wiamee  all  alone?" 

"  No  ma'am." 

"  But  I  thought  you  just  said  so  ?" 

"  I  said  we  had  been  walking  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Wiamee,   Mrs.  Willet — we  did  not  go  quite  to  the  vil- 


"And  alone?" 

"  No  ma'am,"  said  Kate  again,  with  a  little  flush  of  vexa- 
tion at  this  string  of  cross-questions.  "Mamma,  were  you 
uneasy  at  our  being  out  in  the  rain  ?" 

"  No,  not  much — it  did  not  rain  long  here." 

"  May  I  ask  who  was  with  you  ?"  said  Mrs.  Willet, 
whose  grave  face  had  seemed  to  say  that  she  was  trying  to 
puzzle  the  matter  out  by  herself 

"Mr.  Colllngwood." 

"  Oh,  then  you  were  safe,  of  course ;  but  my  dear  why 
didn't  you  say  so  at  once?  Never  make  a  mystery  of 
anything — and  in  this  case  there  was  no  need, — if  you  had 


480  DOLLARS  AXD   CEXTS. 

lived  a  little  more  in  the  \Yorld  Kate,  you  would  know  that 
nothing  is  more  common  than  for  a  gentleman  to  join  any 
of  his  lady-fi'iends  he  may  meet ; — and  I  don't  know  that 
his  being  youV  pastor  need  make  any  difference." 

The  world  was  in  a  conspiracy  against  our  risible  mus- 
cles that  day  ! 

"  I'm  so  sorry  he  didn't  come  in !"  pursued  Mrs.  ^Yillet. 
*'  Where  did  he  leave  you  ?" 

"  Not  before  our  own  house  was  in  sight,"  said  Kate,  with 
a  look  that  promised  small  information. 

"But  1  wanted  to  see  him  so  much  I — and  I  do  suppose 
I  was  here  when  you  came ;  and  Grace  might  have  run  to 
call  him  back  if  I  had  only  known  !" 

Grace's  mouth  gave  a  little  twitch  of  great  doubt  as  to 
such  a  possibility. 

"  Dear  me,  I'm  so  sorry  !"  repeated  Mrs.  Willet.  "  I 
drove  to  the  Lea  this  morning  to  see  Mrs.  Carvill — you 
know  she's  just  arrived — and  Mr.  Carvill  said  he  rather 
thought  his  brother  had  some  very  disagreeable  business 
on  hand  that  would  keep  him  all  day,  but  it  seems  he  was 
mistaken.  And  now  I've  just  missed  him  here.  I  never 
saw  such  a  young  man  to  get  sight  of!" 

We  could  not  help  smiling  at  Mrs.  Willet's  small  knowl- 
edge of  ^Ir.  Carvill. 

"  What  time  are  you  going  to  have  dinner  V  said  my 
father  opening  the  door.  "  Mrs.  Willet — I  did  not  know 
you  were  here,  ma'am,  or  I  should  have  practised  more  cir- 
cumspection." 

"  How  do  you  do  to-day,  Professor  1" 

"  Rather  tired,  as  a  man,  ma'am, — as  a  professor  I'm 
about  as  usual." 

"  Why  what's  the  difference  f  said  Mi^.  Willet. 

"Well  I  used  to  think  there  was  none,"  said  Mr.  Howard 
with  a  meditative  air;  "but  it's  astonishing  what  mines  of 
knowledge  we  walk  over  without  finding  them,  unless  one 
happens  to  be  sprung, — then,  if  we  survive  the  explosion, 
we  learn  a  great  many  things  we  never  knew  before.  As, 
for  instance,  how  much  it  takes  to  kill  a  man — how  most 
people  dislike  the  smell  of  gunpowder — and  so  forth." 

"  Bless  me !"  said  Mrs.  Willet,  whose  face  expressed  a 
vain  attempt  to  follow  the  speaker,  "  I'm  as  afraid  of  gun- 


DOLLARS  AKD  CEXTS.  481 

powder  as  can  be,  myself.  But  now  do  tell  me  the  differ- 
ence between  a  man  and  a  professor  ?" 

"A  professor,  ma'am,"  said  Mr.  Howard  stroking  his 
chin  thoughtfully,  "  is  always  himself, — he  is  made  of  some 
galvanized  material  that  withstands  wind  and  weather ; — 
whereas  mere  men  are  subject  to  all  the  effects  of  cold, 
hunger,  wealth,  poverty,  manners,  habits,  and  education. 
A  mere  man  is  weak,  and  needs  artificial  supports, — the 
professor  stands  alone — in  his  coat." 

"  Where  on  earth  did  you  pick  all  that  up  ?"  said  Mrs. 
Willet,  with  a  look  of  such  blank  wonder  that  for  us  not  to 
laugh  was  impossible. 

"  Out  of  a  mine  that  sprung  one  day  when  I  was  on  top 
of  it,"  said  my  father  coolly. 

"  Well  you  are  a  most  extraordinary  man  or  professor, 
or  whatever  you  call  yourself!  Dear  me,  I  should  think 
you'd  puzzle  your  students  to  death.  Do  you  always  talk 
such  things  to  them  1" 

"  Not  yet,"  said  Mr.  Howard  ;  "  it  is  necessary  that 
they  should  first  learn  to  creep  as  men,  Mrs.  Willet,  be- 
fore they  can  hope  to  spread  their  wings  and  soar  off  pro- 
fessors." 

"  The  professor  has  sent  my  wits  soaring  off,"  said  Mrs. 
Willet, — "  I  have  absolutely  forgotten  what  I  had  to  say  to 
you.  O — Mr.  Howard,  you  are  coming  to  spend  next 
Wednesday  evening  with  me." 

"  Am  I  f"  said  my  father. 

"  Now  don't  interrupt  me — I  say  you  are  all  coming  to 
spend  that  evening  at  my  house ;  and  I  want  you  to  bring 
Mr.  Collingwood  along.  I've  tried  to  get  sight  of  him,  and 
can't  make  it  out.  Don't  you  think  you'll  see  him  before 
Wednesday  ?" 

My  father  took  a  grave  survey  of  the  ceiling. 

*'  Probably  I  shall,  Mrs.  Willet — if  he  happens  to  come 
in  my  way." 

*'  Well  will  you  promise  to  bring  himl" 

*'  I'll  promise  to  tell  him  what  you  say,  ma'am,  but  as  to 
bringing  him — he  is  not  in  my  leading-strings,  I  assure 
you." 

"I  never  saw  such  a  roundabout  man  in  my  life!"  said 
Mrs.  Willet  getting  up  in  despair. 


482  DOLLARS  AXD   CENTS. 

"  Why  Mr.  Howard,"  said  my  stepmother.  "  what  has 
come  over  you  ?" 

"  Only  one  of  the  phases  that  man  is  subject  to,  my  dear. 
But  what  is  your  message,  Mrs.  Willet  1 — in  case,  as  you 
say,  that  I  should  see  Mr,  Collingwood  V 

"  Tell  him,"  said  Mrs.  Willet  laying  her  hand  impress- 
ively on  my  father's  arm,  "  that  he  must  come  to  me  next 
Wednesday, — that  I  cannot  do  without  him,  and  shall  be 
exceedingly  displeased  if  he  does  not.  I  wouldn't  give  you 
the  trouble,  but  iff  were  to  write  he  would  just  send  me  a 
refusal  as  he  has  before — and  I  don't  want  to  go  to  the  Lea 
again.  You  are  so  much  about,  that  you're  more  likely 
to  see  him  than  the  rest  of  your  family,  or  they  could  do 
it." 

"  Am  11"  said  Mr.  Howard.  "  Well— I'll  deliver  your 
message  as  straight  as  I  can  remember  it,  Mrs.  Willet, — 
further  than  that  I  charge  myself  with  no  responsibility. 
But  see — Mr.  Collingwood  will  like  enough  ask  what  you 
want  him  for,  and  I  am  in  perfect  ignorance  myself.  Is  it 
to  be  a  ball — or  a  masquerade — or  a  soiree  musicale? — 
must  we  take  pumps  or  wind-instruments  V 

"  I  never  saw  anything  like  you !"  said  Mrs.  Willet. 
"  It's  to  be  only  a  little  tea-drinking  for  social  intercourse. 
Mrs.  Howard,  will  you  make  him  understand  and  remem- 
ber 1 — no,  I  can't  stay  any  longer — Philip  has  come, — good- 
bye, and  don't  forget  Wednesday." 

"  What  will  she  think  of  you,  papa  ?"  Kate  said  when  he 
came  in  from  handing  the  lady  to  her  carriage. 

"My  dear  I  am  quite  willing  she  should  have  any 
thoughts  she  can  get  at ; — if  she  had  been  as  ready  to  let 
us  have  dinner,  it  would  have  been  pleasant." 

And  then  as  he  often  did  when  he  came  home,  my  father 
took  us  both  in  his  arms,  and  spoke  for  the  ninety-ninth 
time  his  delight  at  seeing  his  children  look  as  they  ought 
to  do ! 

"  The  first  thing  you  know,  papa,"  said  Kate  laughing, 
"you  will  have  to  give  me  one  of  your  old  lectures  on 
pride." 

"  No  I  shall  not,"  he  answered  gravely  and  looking  down 
at  her  upturned  face;  "because  you  know  my  dear,  pride 
is  always  considered  very  unbecoming  in   a  clergyman's 


DOLLARS  AND   CENTS.  483 

wife — so  I  am  sure  you  would  have  too  much  good  sense 
to  indulge  in  it.  That  is  a  luxury  reserved  for  the  secular 
departments." 

I  thought — it  half  seemed  to  me  as  if  Mr.  Ploward 
thought  too — of  that  Newyear's  morning  years  ago  when 
he  had  stood  just  there  and  called  Kate  his  rosebud, — the 
eyes  that  rested  on  her  wore  so  much  the  same  expression 
— and  her's  cast  down,  as  they  w^ere  then.  But  it  was  with 
a  graver  face  now  that  my  father  kissed  her  and  walked 
away. 

Mr.  Rodney  received  Mrs.  Willet's  message  with  a  look 
that  was  rather  doubting  in  the  midst  of  its  amusement. 

"  It's  to  be  nothing  in  the  world  but  a  little  drinking  tea 
for  social  purposes" — urged  my  father. 

He  smiled,  but  not  in  a  way  that  promised  much  for 
Mrs.  Willet. 

"  I  fear  it  will  be  of  a  kind  that  I  particularly  dislike,  sir, 
— where  fifty  people  are  asked  to  a  private  tete-a-tete  with 
the  hostess." 

"And  what  is  the  exact  number  who  can  have  the  hon- 
our of  meeting  you  at  one  time  V  said  Kate  laughing. 

"  As  many  as  feel  disposed — but  not  without  my  consent 
asked  and  obtained.  Miss  Kate." 

"  I  would  take  my  chance  of  the  fifty  rather  than  of  the 
hostess,  in  this  case,"  said  my  father. 

"How  you  do  talk!"  said  Mrs.  Howard.  "But  really 
Mr.  Rodney  you  need  not  fear  any  trap,  I  am  sure.  Mrs. 
Willet  was  very  anxious  to  have  Mr.  Ellis  at  her  house 
once  more  before  he  went,  and  not  unnaturally  wanted 
some  of  his  friends  to  meet  him  there." 

Mr.  Collingwood  came  and  bent  do^vn  by  Kate. 

"  Are  you  going,  Daphne  f 

"  Perhaps ! — if  I  don't  change  into  '  mouse-ear'  before 
that  time,  and  feel  shy  of  company." 

"  If  you  do  I  shall  change  into  '  cat's-eye'  and  find  you," 
said  he  laughing. 

"  What  a  dreadful  idea !"  said  Kate  when  she  could  com- 
pose her  face.  "  I  will  turn  into  something  else.  But 
people  should  not  talk  of  what  they  don't  understand — there 
never  was  such  a  plant  heard  of!" 

"  I  beg  your  pardon — I  have  seen  it.     And  have  studied 


484  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

Daphne  till  I  know  that  it  always  has  some  mouse-ear 
characteristics." 

"  I  hope  the  debate  with  closed  doors  will  have  a  favour- 
able end,"  said  my  father.  "If  you  have  any  scruples  con- 
cerning Wednesday,  Mr.  Rodney,  I  being  quite  disinterested, 
can  perhaps  resolve  them  better  than  Kate." 

"  You  must  not  say  no,"  said  my  stepmother, — "  Mrs. 
Willet  said  you  '  must  come.'  " 

"  I  am  a  little  afraid  of  people  who  make  such  imperative 
demands,  Mrs.  Howard,"  said  he  smiling.  "  However,  if 
you  are  all  to  be  there,  and  Mr.  Ellis,  I  believe  I  must 
change  my  mind  and  go." 

"  Change  your  mind  %  had  you  heard  of  this  before?"  said 
Kate. 

"  Yes,  from  Carvill.  But  his  speeches  are  generally  two- 
sided — so  perhaps  I  got  hold  of  the  wrong  one.  And  I 
must  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  how  Daphnes  look  by 
gaslight." 

"You  are  altogether  too  botanical" — said  Kate.  "I 
wonder  if  I  am  to  stand  representative  for  all  the  vegetable 
kingdom !" 

"  Not  quite — "  said  Mr.  Collingwood — "  I  should  make  a 
selection.  1  have  not  time  to  tell  you  them  now,  but  you 
will  find  some  in  your  little  Scotch  song  of  'the  Posie.' 
Do  you  remember  f 

"  I  can  remember  one  name  easier  than  a  dozen" — 

"  But  one  is  not  always  appropriate.  Snowdrops  would 
not  answer  at  present ;  and  I  am  afraid  even  the  Daphne 
is  a  little  put  out  of  countenance.     I  should  have  to  choose 

"  The  pink — the  emblem  of  my  dear." 

"I  don't  know  what  I  should  choose  'for  an  emblem  of 
you  !"  said  Kate — "  teazle,  I  think.  And  that  would  be  a 
pity,  too,  for  it's  a  disagreeable  sort  of  a  thing." 

"Not  like  me,  either — "  said  Mr.  Rodney  laughing. 
"That  never  detaches  itself,  and  Katie,  I  am  absolutely 
going  away !" 

"  You  will  come  and  go  with  us  Wednesday  evening  ?" 
said  my  father  looking  up  from  his  book. 

"  Thank  you  sir,  no — I  am  sure  I  shall  not  be  at  leisure 
so  early  as  you  will  leave  home." 


DOLLARS  AXD   C£XTS.  485 

"With  what  pleasure  we  laid  our  hearts  open  to  the  bright 
influences  of  that  Wednesday — in  all  its  beauty  of  weather 
and  scene  !  It  seemed  rather  a  climate  for  exotics  than  for 
the  hill-side  heather  that  had  so  long  faced 

"  Ghill  blustering  wiuds  and  driving  rain ;" 

and  we  let  thoughts  and  words  flit  about  as  gaily  as  did  the 
winged  creatures  of  the  material  world.  How  pleasantly 
we  talked  away  the  morning, — now  dwelling  upon  subjects 
too  dear  fur  anything  like  mirth,  now  amusing  ourselves 
with  the  advantages  of  being  "  professor's  daughters" — of 
which  we  had  several  new  reminders,  in  the  shape  of 
embossed  envelopes  of  invitation.  The  end  of  the  day  bid 
fair  to  be  the  least  pleasant  part  of  it :  but  that  must  be 
gone  through  like  the  rest. 

With  great  consideration  Mrs.  Willet  sent  her  carriage 
for  us  just  when  we  were  ready  ;  but  as  my  father  declared 
his  intention  of  being  "  a  man"  for  that  evening,  we  had 
the  pleasure  of  the  quick  drive  and  early  arrival  all  to 
ourselves. 

The  Moon  society  had  changed  and  enlarged  so  much 
since  we  had  been  of  its  acquaintance,  that  even  in  that 
small  assemblage  there  were  more  new  faces  than  old. 
Captain  De  Camp  appeared,  as  large  as  life  ;  his  epaulettes 
having  been  burnished  with  a  legacy  till  they  had  caught 
the  eye  of  the  oldest  Miss  Willet.  Mrs.  Egerton  came 
forward — so  glad  to  see  us  that  it  was  a  wonder  how  she 
had  lived  through  the  last  few  years ;  while  Mrs.  Willet 
and  Mrs.  Osborne,  with  their  respective  daughters,  were  in 
an  ecstacy. 

We  had  sat  talking  for  a  while,  and  I  had  found  out  with 
great  satisfaction  that  the  fair  face  at  my  side  was  the 
centre  of  attraction  and  attractiveness,  when  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Carvill  entered  the  room.  The  same  as  ever, — the  lady- 
dressed  to  perfection,  if  one  might  judge  by  the  looks 
which  she  received,  but  with  eyebrows  that  rather  w^ondered 
at  her  own  condescension  in  permitting  them ;  while  Mr, 
Carvill's  face  was  much  too  grave  to  be  trusted, — the  de- 
mureness  of  his  greeting  to  Mrs.  Willet  was  like  the  true 
quaker  colour  of  gunpowder.  He  took  a  free  and  easy 
survey  of  the  rooms,  and  first  giving  us  a  propitiatory 


486  DOLLARS  AND   GEXTS. 

bow,  he  came  over  and  shook  hands, — just  as  every  body- 
about  us  flitted  away  to  see  his  wife. 

"  It  is  no  excuse  for  a  man's  rudeness  that  he  did  not 
know  to  whom  he  was  talking."  said  Mr.  Carvill,  "  but  fur- 
ther information  may  induce  him  to  repeat  his  apology. 
Miss  Kate,  I  am  particularly  sorry  to  have  given  you  any 
cause  to  dislike  me." 

Kate  could  vqtj  well  have  dispensed  with  the  repeti- 
tion. 

' "  Can't  quite  understand  how  it  ever  happened,  either — " 
continued  the  gentleman.  "  I  must  confess — I  have  had  a 
presentiment  for  a  long  time  Miss  Kate — if  not  from  the 
first  day  I  had  tlie  honour  of  seeing  you — that  we  should 
by  some  means  or  other  become  at  least  better  acquaint- 
ances,— not  to  say  friends — or  any  thing  else." 

"  Is  the  growth  of  acquaintanceship  so  extraordinary  a 
thing  that  it  requires  a  presentiment  to  bring  it  about  1" 
said  Kate,  with  some  effort  after  her  usual  composure. 

"  Extraordinary  V  said  Mr.  Carvill — "  no  one  can  apply 
that  word  to  any  circumstance  of  the  present  case — possi- 
bly ! — Unless  indeed — it  does  seem  a  little  remarkable — 
pray  where  is  the  Admiral  to-night  V 

"Who,  sir?" 

"  Thought  he  was  to  be  here — "  pursued  Mr.  Carvill, 
who  seldom  deigned  to  explain  himself,  and  taking  another 
look  round  the  room.  "  I  supposed  he  was  to  act  as  convoy 
to  certain  transports, — hope  he  hasn't  lost  'em  by  the  way. 
N'importe  ! — it  will  give  me  a  little  chance  to  talk  to  you ; 
and  allow  me  to  say.  Miss  Kate,  I  wish  it  might  give  you 
a  little  desire  to  talk  to  me — as  the  nearest  representative 
of  the  said  Admiral, — or  is  he  better  known  to  you  by  the 
synonyme  of  Lord  Rodney  V 

"  What  shall  I  talk  about,  Mr.  Carvill "?"  said  Kate,  who 
felt  a  little  doubtful  concerning  the  best  means  of  self- 
defence, — "  the  weather  ?  don't  you  admire  it  1" 

"  Exceedingly,"  said  Mr.  Carvill  folding  his  arms  as  if 
the  subject  was  to  be  a  long  one ;  "  and  the  roses — I  never 
saw  them  so  flourishing, — so  many  too — such  beautiful 
contrasts  of  white  and  red  and  all  the  shading-off  tints. 
Have  you  a  good  supply,  Miss  Kate,  or  may  I  have  the 
pleasure  of  furnishing  you  with  some  new  ones  ]" 


DOLLARS  AXD    CEXTS.  487 

"Thank  you,  Mr.  Carvill,"  said  Kate,  in  whose  face 
there  were  indeed  "  beautiful  contrasts"  she  could  by  no 
means  keep  down,  "  but  I  think  we  have  varieties  enough — 
at  least  as  many  as  we  can  take  care  of.  What  a  very  fine 
rose  the  Devonia  is — and  the  Princesse  de  Nassau." 

"  Very  fine — "  said  Mr.  Carvill  with  a  slight  shrug  of  the 
shoulders, — "  Clemence  thinks  there  is  none  like  it ; — but 
after  all,  rather  pale — I  greatly  prefer  the  blush  roses, 
though  there  are  one  or  two  whites  worth  having.  Ah 
Miss  Kate ! — if  I  could  but  give  you  a  Parisien  bouquet ! 
all  of  roses,  but  assorted  with  such  skill ! — c'est  incroyable. 
For  instance,  they  would  take  first  a  full-blown  Compte  de 
Paris  with  an  opening  Victoire  modeste,  and  a  few  buds  of 
La  Tourterelle — that's  an  extraordinary  rose  ! — then  a  half- 
blown  Hymenee  and  Velours  episcopal ;  and  surround  the 
whole  with  buds  of  Ne  plus  ultra  and  Bouquet  tout  fait. 
You  cannot  imagine  the  effect — it  must  be  seen." 

The  effect  was  seen  by  one  person  at  least,  and  roused 
her  to  an  unwonted  piece  of  boldness  in  the  way  of  diver- 
sion. 

"  What  colour  is  La  Tourterelle,  Mr.  Carvill  1"  I  said. 
"  Is  the  name  descriptive  ?" 

"  Perfectly  so.  Miss  Grace — you  have  no  idea  how  they 
set  off  the  two  principal  roses." 

"  And  do  you  think  you  could  give  us  a  bud  sir,  at  the 
right  season  1" 

"  With  the  utmost  pleasure — only  unfortunately  I  haven't 
got  one  myself.  But  I  intend  to  send  for  some  by  the 
next  steamer — if  they  come  safe  you  shall  have  as  many 
buds  as  you  want, — also  of  Hymenee,  Miss  Grace — if  you 
think  you  would  like  that.  And  by  the  way,  I  came  here 
under  the  impression  that  you  and  I  should  offer  each  other 
mutual  congratulations." 

"  On  what  account,  sir  1" 

'•  Hardly  time  to  congratulate  any  one  else" — said  Mr. 
Carvill — "  and  I  have  a  great  desire  to  say  something  to 
somebody.  I  have  had  a  vague  idea.  Miss  Grace,  that  if 
the  wisdom  of  the  united  parishes  of  Wiamee  and  the 
Moon  had  been  less  strikingly  displayed,  our  enjoyment 
of  the  course  of  human  events  would  have  been  somewhat 
impaired." 


488  DOLLARS  AND   GENTS. 

"A  striking  display  of  wisdom  is  without  doubt  a 
pleasant  thing,"  I  answered. 

"The  only  pity  is,"  pursued  Mr.  Carvill  gravely,  "that 
individuals  are  not  bound  by  the  same  laws  as  communi- 
ties. Don't  you  think  it  would  have  a  fine  effect  if  a  part 
of  that  admirable  Declaration  of  Independence  which  I 
have  already  quoted,  could  be  more  frequently  put  in  prac- 
tice 1     You  probably  remember  its  general  drift — 

*  When,  in  the  course  of  human  events,  it  becomes 
necessary  for  two  people  to  dissolve  the  bands  which  bind 
them  to  all  others,  and  to  assume  the  separate  and  equal 
station  to  which  they  are  entitled,  a  proper  respect  to  their 
fellow-creatures,  requires  that  they  should  declare  the  rea- 
sons which  compel  them  to  the  separation.' " 

"  That  is  rather  a  free  translation,"  said  Kate. 

"  Free  ?"  said  Mr.  Carvill — "  don't  know,  I  declare — yes, 
I  believe  I  should  have  said  induce  or  persuade,  rather  than 
compel.  And  if  you  would  prefer  a  more  literal  wording 
still — But  I  perceive  that  Mrs.  Willet  is  of  the  mind  that 
ladies  should 

'  Sometimes  counsel  take — and  sometimes  tea.' 

— Miss  Kate — will  you  gratify  yourself  and  me  by  taking 
Mocha  or  Souchong  %  Or  if  you  are  nervously  inclined,  per- 
haps I  may  venture  to  recommend  '  a  dash  of  cold  water.'  '* 

"I  shall  not  venture  to  follow  your  recommendation,  Mr. 
Carvill.     I  will  take  coffee  if  you  please." 

"  Sweet  1"  said  the  gentleman  displaying  an  immense 
lump  of  sugar  for  her  approval.  "  Or  does  a  concentration 
of  the  saccharine  principle  make  extrinsic  aid  a  matter  of 
indifference  ?" 

"That  is  just  about  twice  too  much.  Did  you  ever 
learn,  Mr.  Carvill,"  said  Kate,  "  the  name  of  the  next  prin- 
ciple that  is  usually  developed  after  the  saccharine  1" 

"  Must  be  a  sparkling  one — so  far  as  I  can  judge,"  re- 
plied Mr.  Carvill.  "  I  was  under  the  momentary  impres- 
sion that  the  gas  lights  were  amusing  themselves." 

Some  one  else  claiming  his  attention  at  this  moment, 
we  were  allowed  a  breathing  time. 

" My  dear  Gracie !"  said  Kate  fiom  behind  her  coffee- 
cup,  if  "  I  had  the  power  of  transformation  you  never  saw  a 


DOLLARS  AND   CENTS.  489 

veritable  mouse's  ear  run  away  as  I  would  do  !  If  anybody 
would  only  keep  somebody  employed  for  the  rest  of  the 
evening  !" — 

"And  if  employments  would  only  let  somebody  else  go 
free." 

"  Miss  Kate,"  said  Mr.  Ellis  coming  up  to  us,  "  I  never 
saw  you  looking  so  well !" 

"  You  have  seen  me  feeling  a  great  deal  better,  sir," 
said  Kate  half  laughing. 

"  Eh  1  —  what's  the  matter  with  your  sister,  Miss  Grace  ? 
not  downhearted  about  my  going  away,  is  she  1  Don't 
you  think  you'll  all  get  reconciled  to  it  f 

"  What  is  a  good  basis  for  a  reconciliation,  Mr.  Ellis  1" 
said  I  laughing, — "  your  coming  back  very  often  f 

He  shook  his  head. 

"  Ah  you've  been  studying  with  your  father.  No,  I 
sha'n't  come  back  very  often, — not  at  all — till  I'm  wanted. 
But  here  comes  my  successor,  and  a  better  one  no  man 
need  wish." 

And  Mr.  Rodney,  with  his  usual  quiet  and  unconcerned 
self-possession  entered  the  room,  and  made  his  way  through 
the  tea-table  throng  to  the  ladies  of  the  house.  How  it 
took  me  back  to  that  first  evening  at  Miss  Easy's,  to  see 
him  standing  there, — with  the  same  half-concealed  amuse- 
ment, the  same  steady  doing  as  he  chose,  in  spite  of  other 
people's  fuss  and  endeavours ;  and  withal,  the  same  touch 
of  gravity  in  face  and  manner  which  far  from  hindering  the 
most  free  and  playful  intercourse  with  those  around  him, 
preserved  it  always  from  any  taint  of  their  trifling  or  world- 
liness.  His  mind  was  like  a  planet — which  in  all  its  daily 
revolutions  never  fails  to  advance  in  its  orbit  round  the  sun. 

"I  never  look  at  him,  Miss  Kate,"  said  Mr.  Ellis,  "with- 
out thinking  of  the  old  sailor's  remark  about  a  ship's  sails — ' 
*  how  quietly  they  do  their  work !'  " 

"  That  could  not  be  said  of  everybody  in  there,"  said 
Kate,  as  she  looked  through  quite  an  atmosphere  of  gestures 
and  exclamations. 

Mr.  Ellis  smiled,  and  put  his  hands  softly  together  once 
or  twice,  as  if  in  gentle  commiseration  for  human  nature. 

"  I  must  try  and  have  a  word  with  him  before  he  is  fairly 
engrossed  by  any  one  else." 


490  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

And  as  Mr.  Ellis  moved  off,  his  place  was  immediately- 
taken  by  Mr.  Carvill — who  I  felt  sure  had  been  watching 
for  it. 

"  Fairly  come  at  last !"  he  said, — "  took  an  observation 
first,  like  a  true  sailor,  and  then  tacked  off  to  declare  him- 
self in  port  and  show  his  colours.  The  queerest  thing  is 
that  nobody  can  tell  exactly  what  they  are. — Now  there's 
my  wife — declares  when  he's  away  that  he's  nothing  but  an 
American ;  but  before  he  has  talked  to  her  five  minutes, 
she  is  equally  sure  that  he  must  hail  from  Port  au  Prince 
— or  some  other  high-born  region.  Miss  Kate,  may  I  ask 
you  a  very  rude  question  % — do  you  speak  French  ?" 

"  Yes,"  she  said  with  a  smile. 

"  Very  glad — indeed  !"  said  Mr.  Carvill — "  perhaps  that 
may  enable  me  to  do  what  I  have  been  trying  for  this  long 
time.  It's  so  desirable  that  all  the  members  of  -a  family 
should  know  and  like  each  other — and  Clemence  has  a  mortal 
aversion  to  speaking  English." 

"But  I  thought  you  liked  French,  Mr.  Carvill?"  said 
Kate  gravely. 

"Like  it!  of  course — think  I  do!  Miss  Kate,  you  shall 
excuse  me  if  I  enter  into  no  unnecessary  explanations  as  to 
which  member  of  the  family  was  in  my  mind.  How  will 
the  Admiral  ever  steer  clear  of  all  those  mamma  continents 
and  daughter  islands!" — 

*'  He  does  not  seem  to  be  attempting  it,"  I  said  smiling. 

"  Beg  your  pardon.  Miss  Grace — but  the  Adventure  is 
naturally  anxious  to  join  her  consort  the  Recluse,  and  the 
Admiral  has  surveyed  the  north-west  passage  at  least  half 
a  dozen  times." 

How  I  did  wish  he  would  come,  and  put  an  end  to  a  kind 
of  attack  that  was  growing  rather  painful.  Silence  was  our 
only  resource,  for  every  shot  on  our  part  only  furnished  the 
enemy  with  new  ammunition, — when  indeed  he  had  plenty 
of  his  own  left.  Our  end  of  the  room  was  almost  deserted, 
— near  the  other  end  Mrs.  Carvill  occupied  a  sofa,  while 
several  gentlemen  had  the  floor  in  front  of  her ;  and  a  few 
young  ladies  were  leaning  upon  the  piano  and  playing  with 
their  tea-spoons.  By  degrees  however  the  tide  turned,  and 
continents  and  islands  came  floating  in  together. 

"The  Admiral  is  trying  to  break  thi'ough  the  ice  in  his 


DOLLARS  A^B   CENT6.  491 

way — extraordinary  machinery !"  observed  Mr.  Carvill  as 
his  brother  seated  himself  by  Mrs.  Carvill — thereby  scatter- 
ing her  group  of  dawdlers — and  engaged  her  in  a  few 
minutes  earnest  conversation.  Then  rising,  Mr.  Rodney 
gave  the  lady  his  arm,  and  bringing  her  across  the  room 
feirly  placed  her  by  Kate,  with  the  simple  remark, 

*'  Mrs.  Carvill  wishes  to  renew  her  acquaintance  with  you, 
Miss  Kate." 

I  thought  we  were  not  the  only  surprised  ones  of  the 
party,  and  for  a  few  minutes  Mrs.  Carvill  seemed  more  dis- 
posed to  use  her  eyes  than  her  tongue;  but  Mr.  Rodney 
stood  quietly  furthering  his  object — joining  in  and  drawing 
out  as  he  knew  well  how  to  do, — warding  off  at  least  some 
of  Mr.  Carvill's  attacks,  and  preventing  so  far  as  he  could, 
the  transformation  of  the  Daphne  into  any  other  flower 
whatever. 

"  You  do  not  care  for  societe" — was  Mrs.  Carvill's  first 
remark, — "  you  sit  here  so  qui-et." 

"  Yes,  I  care  for  it  very  much,"  sai4  Kate  smiling. 

"  But  you  have  talked  this  evening  a  plusieurs  gens — as 
if,  a  votre  gre,  you  would  have  been  silent." 

"  Have  I  ?  but  '  il  y  a  gens  et  gens'  you  know,  Mrs. 
Carvill.     You  would  not  call  everybody  society  V 

"Tout  au  contraire!"  she  said  most  expressively, — 
"  there  is  very  little  that  I  should  call  that  in  this  country 
— there  cannot  be." 

"  You  are  reading  the  proverb  backwards,"  said  Mr. 
Rodney  with  a  smile ;  "  it  used  to  be  '  Tant  vaut  I'homme, 
tant  vaut  sa  terre' ;  and  you  say  '  tant  vaut  la  terre,  tant 
vaut  I'homme.'  It  would  be  hardly  fair  to  take  for  granted 
that  all  America's  sons  and  daughters  are  as  rough  as  her 
rocks  and  mountains." 

"  Rough  !"  said  Mr.  Carvill — "  talk  of  rocks  and  moun- 
tains with  your  eyes  fixed  upon  roses  ! — never  knew  before 
how  many  trains  of  thought  a  man  can  carry  on  at  once." 

"  You  did  not  carry  on  but  one  1  non  plus  ?"  said  Mrs. 
Carvill  with  one  of  her  peculiar  looks. 

"  Have  been  carrying  on  two  all  the  evening — "  replied 
Mr.  Carvill ;  "  one  concerning  my  brother,  and  another  in  a 
diametrically  opposite  direction  about  these  young  ladies, — 
got  a  little  confusion  among  'em  too,  which  was  catching." 


492  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

"  What  is  the  greatest  fault  you  find  with  society  here, 
Mrs.  Carvill  ?"  said  Kate. 

"  Mais — some  of  them  do  not  know,  and  some  of  them 
do  not  talk — et  les  autres  sont  si  betes  !"  she  said  with  an 
expression  of  disgust. 

"  II  y  a  toujours  de  I'homrae  partout,"  said  Mr.  Rodney. 

"  I  do  appreciate  those  faults,  though,"  said  Kate — " '  some 
do  not  know  and  some  do  not  talk," — they  are  not  always 
faults,  either — ^they  are  oftener  mistakes." 

"Mistakes!"  said  Mr.  Carvill.  "Miss  Kate  will  you 
enlighten  my  ignorance  ]" 

"  I  mean  sir,  that  many  persons  err  in  supposing  that 
certain  things  are  not  worth  knowing,  and  that  certain 
others  are  worth  talking  about.  Mr.  Rodney,"  she  said, 
her  eye  almost  unconsciously  seeking  one  where  she  felt 
sure  of  sympathy,  "  you  remember  what  Addison  says — 
*  as  few  of  his  thoughts  are  drawn  from  business,  they  are 
most  of  them  fit  for  conversation'  1" 

"  I  remember  it  well ;  but  I  fear  it  will  be  some  time 
before  the  society  of  this  hard-working  country  reaches 
quite  that  point  of  perfection." 

"And  which  has  been  my  mistake  this  evening.  Miss 
Kate  1"  said  Mr.  Carvill, — "  the  not  knowing  some  things 
or  the  talking  about  others  ? — must  have  made  one  of  the 
two — for  you  would  not  talk  to  me.  Did  I  say  too  much 
about  my  own  business  affairs'?" 

"  I  should  like  to  know  what  they  are !"  said  Mr.  Rod- 
ney interposing,  for  Kate's  face  gave  rather  a  quick  answer. 
"  If  you  talked  about  guns  and  dogs,  I  don't  wonder  Miss 
Kate  had  nothing  to  say  to  you." 

"  Dogs !"  said  Mr.  Carvill — "  never  shall  make  a  distant 
allusion  to  that  subject  again — don't  think  she  likes  it.  I 
wouldn't  even  dare  to  ask  her  to  look  at  Canis  major." 

Mr.  Rodney  could  not  help  smiling;  while  Mrs.  Carvill 
with  a  little  impatience  at  what  she  could  not  quite  under- 
stand, said, 

"  Est-ce  la  ce  que  vous  appellez  conversation  V 

"Je  fais  place  a  vous,"  said  Mr.  Carvill  bowing.  "And 
yet  now  I  think  of  it — since  it  has  been  touched  upon — Miss 
Kate — I  believe  you  have  the  dog-rose  in  your  collection  ?" 

"  Miss  Catherwood,"  said  Mr.  Rodney  suddenly  laying 


DOLLARS  AXD  CEXTS. 

his  hands  upon  Mr.  Carvill's  shoulders  and  bringing  him 
face  to  face  with  a  young  lady  who  was  passing  us,  "  will 
you  permit  me  to  furnish  you  with  an  escort  wherever  you 
are  going  ?     My  brother,  Mr.  Carvill." 

And  when  we  could  recover  our  gravity,  we  had  a  few- 
minutes  quiet,  which  Mrs.  Carvill  chose  to  improve  in  a 
somewhat  unexpected  manner.  She  had  been  watching 
every  word  and  look  of  Kate's  as  if  she  wanted  to  make 
up  her  own  mind  about  her ;  now  giving  most  grave  at- 
tention, now  smiling  a  little  that  anybody  could  be  confused 
about  anything.  Perhaps  she  thought  this  last  point 
wanted  a  remedy,  or  else  the  kindliness  which  I  had  seen 
growing  in  her  eyes  wished  to  show  itself;  for  touching 
Kate's  cheek  as  if  she  had  been  a  child,  Mrs.  Carvill  said 
with  a  half  smile, 

"  Est-ce  que  vous  mettez  votre  rouge  toujours  ainsi  V 

The  rouge  declared  itself  natural  by  unmistakeable  signs. 

"  Elle  sera  amie  a  toute  epreuve,"  continued  the  lady, 
looking  up  at  Mr.  Rodney  as  if  it  never  entered  her  head 
that  Kate  could  dislike  the  subject, — "si  belle!  si  bonne  !" 

"  Comme  je  vous  ai  dit" — was  the  answer,  given  as 
gravely  as  if  the  idea  had  never  occurred  to  him  either. 

"Oui,  etplus.  J'en  ferai  soeur  de  tout  mon  cceur.  Mais 
— Cateau — votre  ami  aime  mieux  vos  yeux  eu  haut  qu'en 
has, — le  tapis  n'en  est  pas  digne." 

"  C'est  I'affaire  qui  est  sur  le  tapis,"  said  Mr.  Rodney 
smiling. 

"  But  Mrs.  Carvill,"  said  Kate,  trying  to  rouse  herself 
and  clinging  to  English  as  if  she  thought  French  ground 
dangerous,  "  don't  you  think  it  is  right  sometimes  to  bestow 
things  where  they  are  not  quite  deserved  V 

"I  do  not  know — perhaps — "  said  Mrs.  Carvill,  again  eye- 
ing her  as  if  she  were  a  very  mollifying  piece  of  simplicity. 
"  M.  Rode-ney — elle  doit  faire  tout  "votre  contentement." 

"  Oui,"  he  replied  with  a  smile  of  very  full  assent, — 
"  mais  Clemence,  ce  n'est  pas  a  prier." 

I  believe  for  once  Kate  was  not  sorry  to  see  Mr.  Carvill 
come  back. 

"  Mr.  Collingwood,"  he  said,  "  if  it  were  not  for  alarm- 
ing the  present  company,  I  should  express  my  displeasure." 

"  What  about  V 


494  DOLLARS  AM)   CENTS. 

"  Your  most  unceremonious  behaviour,  sir." 

" '  Turn  about  is  fair  play'  sometimes,  at  least,"  said  Mr. 
Rodney  laughing, — "  I  think  the  want  of  ceremony  was 
on  your  side  for  leaving  Miss  Catherwood  so  speedily." 

And  then  up  came  Mrs.  Willet  and  made  a  pounce. 

"  My  dear  Mr.  Collingwood,  for  what  earthly  purpose 
are  you  standing  up  all  this  time  f 

"  Simply  to  talk,  ma'am." 

"  But  can't  you  talk  sitting  down  ?" 

"  No  ma'am,"  said  Mr.  Carvill,  "  Rodney  never  enjoys 
a  conversation  unless  he  can  use  his  eyes  as  well  as  his 
tongue ;  and  in  that  respect  his  present  position  gives  him 
what  one  of  my  neighbours  calls  a  'felicite,'  that  no  arm- 
chair could  do." 

"  But  I  am  not  talking  of  arm-chairs — Mr.  Collingwood. 
do  let  me  take  you  to  the  sofa." 

"  The  sofa !  no  thank  you,  Mrs.  Willet — I  think  I  am 
more  in  place  here." 

"How  bright  you  all  look!"  said  Mrs.  Willet  surveying 
us  by  turns.     "  What  have  you  been  talking  about?" 

"  Friends  and  foes,"  said  Mr.  Carvill. 

"  O  !  not  foes  I  hope  !  that's  quite  shocking.  Mr.  Col- 
lingwood do  you  permit  such  things]  Why  didn't  you 
come  to  us  earlier  to-night  V 

"I  thought  I  had  explained  to  you?"  Mrs.  Willet,  that  I 
was  unavoidably  detained." 

"  But  you  didn't  tell  me  why  1" 

"  No  ma'am,  I  believe  not." 

"  You  ought  to  take  care  of  your  health  first  of  all," 
said  Mrs.  Willet  with  her  favourite  attempt  to  reach  the 
mind  through  the  arm.  "  Now  don't  you  think  sol  answer 
me  conscientiously." 

"  I  think  that  I  always  take  excellent  care  of  mind  and 
body — when  I  do  my  duty,"  he  answered  with  a  slight 
smile. 

The  lady  puzzled  over  the  arrangement  of  his  words  for 
a  moment,  and  then  took  another  subject. 

"  I  am  so  delighted  that  we  are  to  have  you  here — I  was 
talking  about  it  yesterday.  But  you  look  as  grave  as  if  I 
had  said  I  was  sorry." 

"  My  brother,  ma'am,"  said  Mr.  CarvilJ,  "  feels  his  mind 


DOLLAR;^  AXD  CENTS.  495 

naturally  engrossed  to  some  degree  by  the  prospect  which 
lies  before  him, — after  a  few  weeks  he  will  be  better  able 
to  answer  the  congratulations  of  his  friends." 

"  Do  tell  me  if  it  is  true  that  you  are  going  to  leave  the 
Lea  and  live  in  that  cottage  all  by  yourself?" 

"  Do  you  ever  believe  all  that  the  world  says  Mrs.  Wil- 
let  ?"  said  Mr.  Rodney  smiling. 

"  But  my  dear  sir,  you  ought  not — will  you  mind  if  I 
tell  you  what  I  think  about  it  V 

"  I  won't  promise  to  mind,  ma'am,"  said  Mr.  Rodney, 
but  in  a  way  that  quite  captivated  Mrs.  Willet, — "  I  have 
a  little  of  the  perverseness  incident  to  human  nature." 

"  O  you  know  what  I  meant.  But  now,  really  if  you 
will  live  there  you  ought  to  have  some  one  to  take  care  of 
you." 

"  I  intend  to  take  the  best  possible  care  of  myself." 

"  Yes,  yes,  but  that  won't  do — you  should  engage  Sk  first- 
rate  housekeeper.     Now  promise  me  that  you  will  ?" 

"  I  have  had  some  thoughts,"  said  Mr.  Collingwood  look- 
ing up  with  praiseworthy  composure,  "  of  getting  one  that 
my  father  used  to  have." 

"  I  think  Mr.  Ellis  will  provide  him  with  one,  ma'am," 
said  Mr.  Car v ill  with  a  glance  at  Kate,  who  though  she 
was  talking  to  some  one  else  gave  most  unwilling  notice 
that  she  heard  him. 

"  Poor  Mr.  Ellis !"  said  Mrs.  Willet,  "  he  is  all  alone  on 
the  sofa, — you  must  go  and  sit  by  him — I  do  so  like  to 
see  clergymen  sit  together." 

Mr.  Collingwood  ventured  not  to  reply,  but  looking 
round  to  make  sure  that  Mr.  Ellis  was  really  there,  he 
walked  gravely  across,  and  taking  the  desired  place  sailed 
off  into  too  deep  water  for  Mrs.  Willet  to  follow.  But 
let  him  alone,  she  could  not — so  long  as  he  was  within 
hail. 

"  Mr.  Collingwood,  you  really  should  put  your  arm  round 
Mr.  Ellis." 

"  Suppose  I  don't  want  him  to,  ma'am,"  said  Mr.  Ellis. 

"  O  you  must ! — it's  so  pleasant  to  see  clergymen  affec- 
tionate !" 

"  Ostensibly  1  ma'am,"  said  Mr.  Rodney  looking  up  at 
her  with  an  expression  that  made  every  one  else  laugh. 


496  DOLLARS  AND  CENTS. 

"  Any  way,"  said  Mrs.  Willet.  "  Now  won't  you  just 
oblige  me  1  there's  something  so  sweet  about  it." 

Mr.  Rodney  laughed,  and  sending  one  glance  of  inex- 
pressible comicality  to  where  we  sat,  he  threw  his  arm  over 
the  back  of  the  sofa  but  by  no  means  near  Mr.  Ellis,  and 
quietly  resumed  his  conversation. 

"  I  have  got  them  both  on  the  sofa  together,"  said  Mrs. 
Willet  approaching  my  father  and  taking  his  arm. 

"  Both  who  V  said  Mr.  Howard  looking  towards  Kate 
and  Mrs.  Carvill. 

"  The  two  clergymen — see." 

"  O— Did  they  want  to  be  together,  Mrs.  Willet  1" 

"  Bless  me !  Mr.  Howard,  what  a  strange  question ! — 
how  could  they  help  it,  sir*?" 

"  I'm  sure  I  don't  know,  ma'am.  Have  you  any  sofa  ex- 
clusively appropriated  to  professors  V  said  my  father  look- 
ing about  him. 

"My  dear  Mr.  Howard!"  said  Mrs.  Willet  laughing, 
"  here  is  an  arm-chair  for  you — won't  that  do  ?  Now  sit 
down  there  like  a  nice  man  and  keep  yourself  quiet — I'm 
going  to  make  Kate  sing." 

"  I'm  afraid  it  will  dislodge  the  clergymen,  ma'am," 
said  my  father, — "Mr.  Collingwood  is  remarkably  fond  of 
music." 

But  Mrs.  Willet  had  turned  off. 

"  Kate  my  dear,  you  must  come  and  sing  for  us." 

"  Shall  I  have  the  honour  of  being  deputy  escort  and 
piano  opener  V  said  Mr.  Carvill. 

"  Qui  vous  a  deligue  "?"  said  his  wife,  who  was  no  friend 
to  inuendos. 

"  Never  mind,  my  dear — suppose  you  persuade  Miss  Kate 
to  sing  '  Ou  peut  on  etre  mieux  qu'au  sein  de  son  famille' 
— it's  a  remarkably  fine  air  !" 

"Come!"  said  Mrs.  Willet. 

And  Kate  by  a  rather  quick  and  skilful  movement  escaped 
Mr.  Carvill's  vigilance,  and  escorting  herself  to  the  piano 
sang  whatever  was  called  for, — even,  at  last,  Mr.  Carvill's 
song ;  for  everybody  took  it  up  so  warmly  that  she  could 
not  get  off. 

And  Mr.  Rodney  and  I  stood  close  behind  her  to  listen. 

"  Miss  Kate,"  he  said,  offering  her  his  arm  as  she  hastily 


DOLLARS  AND   CENTS.  497 

left  the  music-bench,  "  Mrs.  Howard  commissioned  me  to 
tell  you  that  you  would  find  her  in  the  dressing-room."        * 

And  leading  her  up  to  Mrs.  Willet  while  my  father  and 
I  followed,  we  made  our  adieus,  and  emerged  first  into  the 
hall  and  then  into  the  cool  starlight,^how  refreshing  to  both 
mind  and  body ! 

The  next  day,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cai-vill  called  at  Glen  Luna. 


498  DOLLARS  AND  CENTS. 


CHAPTER    XLIX. 


The  ring  is  on, 
The  "wilt  thou"  answered,  and  again 
The  "wilt  thou"  asked,  till  out  of  twain 
Her  sweet  "I  will"  has  made  ye  one. 

Tennyson. 


THE  days  flew  like  a  flock  of  robins  in  the  sunshine — 
every  one  showing  some  bright  touch  of  gold  or  crim- 
son ;  and  though  it  was  "  summer  weather,"  even  I  could  not 
be  sad :  Kate  blew  away  every  cloud  as  fast  as  it  rose,  and 
Mr.  Rodney  half  deluded  me  into  the  belief  that  they  were 
but  the  remnants,  not  the  beginnings  of  bad  weather.  I 
say  half — for  there  was  sometimes  that  at  my  heart  which 
said  they  would  not  all  blow  over.  Especially  when  a 
quick  expression  of  my  father's  eye  or  change  in  his  voice, 
or  some  unusual  tenderness  shown  for  me  by  Mrs.  Howard, 
said  that  my  trial  stood  neither  alone  nor  unappreciated. 
Yet  were  w^e  very  happy,  in  spite  of  it  all.  Ah  love  is  not 
always  selfish !  if  ever  people  were  happy  self-denyingly, 
we  were ;  and  Kate  looked  at  me  sometimes  with  eyes  that 
were  all  tearful  in  their  gratitude.  And  so  the  thirteenth 
of  June  came  and  passed,  and  late  in  the  evening  we  stood 
out  of  doors  in  the  moonlight,  looking  quietly  at  that  fair 
combination  of  "  Luna  and  Luna."  The  light  was  faint  at 
first,  as  the  twilight  died  away,  and  the  lake  was  more  like 
a  steel  mirror  than  any  other ;  and  the  shadows  were  but 
faintly  marked  out  upon  the  deep  shade  which  covered  the 
earth.  The  stars  shone  with  a  very  softened  light,  as  if  the 
warm  weather  had  damped  their  energies,  and  the  wind 
might  have  been  exhausted  as  well ;  for  it  only  now  and 
then  rustled  the  elm  leaves  at  the  corner  of  the  house — as 
it  were  just  by  way  of  putting  its  finger  in.  The  insects 
were  the  only  busy  part  of  creation,  unless  it  was  the  flow- 


DOLLARS  AND   CENTS.  400 

ers ;  and  they  grew  sweeter  and  sweeter  beneath  the  dew, 
thus  rendering  back  that  best  of  all  gratitude  for  kind  offices 
— improvement.  By  degrees  the  glimmering  lights  at  the 
Moon  showed  less  distinctly,  and  the  scene  seemed  fuller 
of  objects,  and  a  bright  half-circle  in  the  eastern  sky  told 
what  was  coming.  Then  the  lake  whitened,  and  the  trees 
threw  themselves  across  the  lawn,  and  Wolfgang  came  out 
from  what  had  hitherto  been  but  a  dark  spot  on  the  gravel 
walk ;  and  then — 

"  The  rising  moon  has  hid  the  stars ; 
Her  level  rays,  like  golden  bars, 
Lie  on  the  landscape  green, 
With  shadows  brown  between." 

And  clearing  first  the  horizon  and  then  that  inner  boundary 
of  woods,  Luna  herself  looked  down  upon  us. 

She  was  variously  received.  Two  or  three  smart  little 
dogs  on  the  other  side  of  the  lake  rather  thought  if  people 
were  in  the  dark  it  was  as  well  to  let  them  stay  there,  and 
barked  their  discontentment  at  being  enlightened.  Two  or 
three  cocks  were  quite  willing  to  wake  up,  but  they  rather 
thought  it  was  not  the  moon  but  something  else — and 
crowed  over  the  discovery.  And  without  raising  his  head 
Wolfgang  signified  what  he  would  do  to  them  all  if  they 
were  within  reach. 

For  us,  we  had  stood  looking  on  in  absolute  silence,  ex- 
cept the  slight  foot-token  now  and  then  of  a  change  of  posi- 
tion ;  but  as  the  light  strengthened  and  our  figures  came 
out  with  the  rest,  we  looked  first  at  the  moon  of  course, 
and  then  at  each  other, — then  my  eyes  went  away  again  to 
the  darkest  spot  they  could  find — I  was  half  inclined  to  be 
of  the  little  dogs'  opinion. 

"  The  silent  moon"  was  too  talkative  for  once,  she  went 
over  all  my  past  life ;  and  the  other  face  I  had  looked  at 
was  too  full  of  the  future, — I  almost  felt  as  if  the  present 
were  nowhere — had  no  existence.  Not  quite, — for  even 
with  the  feeling  my  hand  sought  Kate's  and  they  were  fast 
clasped  together. 

"  Do  you  remember,''  said  Mr.  Rodney,  perhaps  thinking 
that  it  was  time  to  draw  us  from  our  thoughtfulness  or  to 
explain  his  own — for  he  had  stood  there  with  folded  arms 


500  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

as  silent  as  the  rest  of  us.  "  Do  you  remember  Katie  those 
lines  of  William  Harrington's  upon  '  the  Firmament'  *?" 

"  No,  I  don't  know  that  I  ever  read  them." 

"  Won't  you  repeat  them  Mr.  Rodney  ?" 

"I  do  not  recollect  them  all  myself,  Gracie.     They  begin, 

"  '  When  I  survey  the  bright 
Celestial  sphere : 
So  rich  with  jewels  huuff,  that  night 
Doth  like  an  Ethiop  bride  appear ; 

"  '  My  soul  her  wings  doth  spread, 
And  heaven- ward  flies, 
The  Almighty's  mysteries  to  read 
In  the  large  volumes  of  the  skies.' 

I  was  thinking  of  the  many  efforts  men  have  made  to  find 
physical  means  of  sailing  through  this  forty  miles  of  air, 
and  how  the  wings  of  the  soul  lie  folded  by,  forgotten  and 
out  of  use." 

"And  then'?" 

"  And  then  of  the  different  flight  of  those  which  are 
spread, — how  some  flutter  down  because  their  supports  are 
not  well-grown  or  of  the  right  kind  ;  while  others  '  mount 
up  on  wings  as  eagles' — and  return  to  earth,  one  might 
almost  say,  never,  except  for  'works  of  necessity  and 
mercy'." 

"  And  that  reminded  you  of  Miss  Easy." — 

*'  My  thoughts  go  back  to  her  from  almost  every  point — 
and  they  could  not  fail  of  it  to-night,  of  all  others.  Yes,  I 
remembered  her — how  unlike  most  people  in  the  simple, 
undivided,  walk  and  aim !  what  years  of  very  dear  friend- 
ship 1  had  with  her !  I  was  trying  to  satisfy  myself  with 
those  words  of  Rutherford.  'The  star. that  once  shined 
upon  Galloway,  is  shining  now  in  another  world' — for  if 
she  has  not  the  joy  of  seeing  her  wish  accomplished,  neither 
does  she  need  it.  But  1  came  back  again  to  the  mere 
sprinkling  there  is  of  such  lights  upon  earth." 

"  I  shall  add  another  '  and  then',"  said  Kate. 

He  smiled  as  he  answered, 

"  Why  ?" 

"You  have  just  given  us  the  starting-point  of  your 
thoughts,  and  I  think  it  is  exceeding  pleasant  to  know 
whither  they  lead  one, — if  there  be  no  reason  against  it." 


DOLLARS  AXD   CENTS.  501 

"  There  is  none  in  the  world,  Katie ;  but  it  would  be  too 
long  an  '  and  then'  if  I  gave  you  all  their  ins  and  outs  and 
wanderings.  With  the  rarity  of  a  thing  comes  the  thought  of 
its  difficulty,  and  then  the  remembrance  that  the  question  is 
not  of  ease  or  of  numbers, — that  the  essential  characteris- 
tics of  God's  child^^en  cannot  change.  And  there  my 
thought  found  these  words  written, 

"  '  For  they  desire  a  better  country,  that  is,  an  heavenly.' " 

He  paused  a  few  moments,  and  then  went  on. 

"  ]  was  thinking  most  of  that — thinking,  my  dear  Kate, 
with  unspeakable  pleasure !  that  we  are  both  '  bound  for 
the  kingdom' !" 

There  was  no  more  said  then,  for  some  time,  except  as 
the  clasp  of  Kate's  hand  told  me  that  the  word  "  both"  had 
for  her  a  double  bearing.  Then  she  said  in  those  very  quiet, 
low  tones  where  several  feelings  as  it  were  moderate  each 
other, 

"  How  strongly  in  a  few  simple  words,  the  Bible  draws 
a  portrait,  while  men  with  their  numberless  tints  and 
touches  sometimes  almost  cover  up  what  they  attempt  to 
make  plain." 

"That  is  a  portrait  of  three-fold  power,"  said  Mr.  Rod- 
ney,— "  at  once  a  test,  a  reproof  and  a  promise.  Henry 
Martyn  took  it  for  his  first  text  when  he  had  left  home  and 
friends  for  ever — and  I  have  felt  some  need  of  preaching  it 
to  myself  to-night. 

"  But  not  to  you,  my  dear  Daphne,"  he  added,and  laying 
a  very  gentle  hand  upon  her  brow — "  I  should  not  think 
your  spirits  needed  schooling.  I  fear  I  have  sent  your 
thoughts  whither  I  meant  not, — where  are  they  busy  V 

But  she  gave  him  no  answer  except  a  slight  shake  of  the 
head,  with  a  very  little  bit  of  a  smile  to  bear  it  company. 

"  How  beautiful  the  lake  is  !" 

"Very, — but  you  should  see  those  Bermuda  channels 
that  your  eyes  are  like,  Katie." 

"  To  cure  me  of  any  wild  notions  I  may  have  on  the 
subject." — 

"  Precisely  !  If  they  run  too  wild  to  be  cured  at  home 
I  shall  take  you  there  for  the  purpose, — and  Gracie  to  have 
hers  confirmed." 

"  1  will  take  it  upon  trust,  sir,"  I  said  smiling. 


502  LOLLABS  AND  CENTS. 

"  What  proportion  of  the  Moon  do  you  suppose  will  go 
to  church  to-morrow  ?"  said  my  father  coming  towards  us 
from  a  "  green  settee"  with  Mrs.  Howard. 

"  Why  nobody  knows  anything  about  it,  papa,"  said  I. 

"  Then  I  shall  have  to  wait  and  see." 

"  O  papa  ! — I  mean  about  to-morrow^" 

"  Well,"  said  Mr.  Howard  looking  down  the  lake  to  a 
square  front  of  lights  that  displayed  itself  illumination 
fashion,  "  I  don't  pretend  to  know  much  about  it,  either ; 
but  if  Mrs.  Willet  is  not  at  this  moment  contriving  how  to 
wake  up  early,  and  bribing  Captain  De  Camp  to  give  her 
the  benefit  of  his  military  experience,  it  is  only  because 
some  newer  idea  has  supplanted  ^Ir.  Collingwood." 

"  Which  is  not  at  all  impossible,"  said  that  gentleman 
smiling, — "  therefore  long  breaths  may  as  well  be  kept  till 
they  are  needed.  I  hope  that  time  will  not  be  to-morrow, 
dear  Daphne,"  he  said  as  he  bade  her  good-night. 

The  moon  told  me  a  great  many  things  during  those  few 
minutes  when  we  were  silent  again,  till  the  last  step  was 
beyond  transmitting,  even  through  the  stillness  of  that 
night. 

"What  a  strange  thing  'to-morrow'  is!"  soliloquized 
Mr.  Howard.  "  A  point  of  pleasure — ^a  point  of  pain, — 
dreaded,  wished  for, — it  enters  your  life,  and  already  its 
wedge-shaped  train  of  consequences  spreads  out  before  you; 
and  lo,  '  to-morrow'  is  something  else  !" 

"A  wedge  of  pleasure,  or  of  pain,  papal"  Kate  said 
softly,  and  laying  her  head  on  his  shoulder. 

"  Of  pleasure,  my  dear  child,"  he  said  passing  his  arm 
round  her.  "  Pointed  it  may  be,  with  pain — with  mixed 
metal  certainly — but  bringing  as  I  truly,  believe  very  pure 
happiness  for  you,  and  for  us  through  you.  And  not  even 
the  weakest  among  us,"  he  added,  resting  his  lips  on  her 
forehead,  "  would  evade  the  one  to-morrow — for  the  sake 
of  those  which  shall  follow  it." 

And  there  was  another  pause,  while  each  one  tried  to 
throw  off  the  dread  of  that  point  which  no  endeavours  could 
blunt.  Then  my  father  spoke  again,  and  in  quite  a  different 
voice. 

"  Are  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carvill  coming  here  to  breakfast  ?" 

"  Yes,"  said  Mrs.  Howard. 


DOLLAR'S  AXD  CEXTS.  503 

"  Are  you  sure,  mamma  ?"  Kate  said,  looking  up  despair- 

"  Unless  they  change  their  minds,  dear, — which  is  not 
very  likely." 

"Aren't  you  glad?"  said  my  father  smiling. 

"  I  am  not  indeec^" 

"  Can't  be  helped  Katie, — it  is  generally  an  unfortunate 
thing  to  have  relations,  but  since  Mr.  Rodney  tries  to  like 
yours,  you  must  even  return  the  compliment." 

"  I  would  like  them — if  they  would  let  me  alone." 

"  That  would  be  asking  too  much  of  some  humanity," 
said  my  father,  "and  perhaps  it  is  just  as  well  for  some 
other  humanity  that  it  is  so.  But  do  you  recollect  that 
humanity  is  apt  to  oversleep  itself  if  it  stays  up  too  late 
o'  nights  ? — I  think  we  had  better  go  to  bed, — Gracie  would 
be  in  despair,  if  you  were  hurried  off  to  that  morning  drive 
without  a  sufficiently  elaborate  toilet." 

"  Pointed  with  pain"' — there  was  no  mixed  metal  about 
it  when  I  opened  my  eyes  next  morning, — a  pain  so  keen, 
so  heart-sickening,  that  for  a  few  moments  I  could  not  wake 
the  quiet  sleeper  at  my  side  lest  she  should  see  it  in  my 
flice.  But  that  trying  and  yet  blessed  relief,  necessity — the 
call  for  immediate  action — came  to  my  help ;  and  ^vith  one 
kiss  and  word  I  roused  Kate  from  the  dream  which  had 
half  given  her  a  shadow  of  my  waking  thoughts.  Her  eye 
met  mine — and  as  instantly  her  arms  were  about  me  and 
ray  face  dra^^-n  down  to  hers, — then  quickly  disengaging 
myself,  I  went  to  the  window  and  looked  out  into  the  early 
twilight. 

The-  stars  were  lingering  yet,  even  amid  the  eastern 
brightness  which  came  on  apace,  and  before  which  earth's 
deep  neutral  tint  was  fast  changing  and  the  moon  shadows 
melting  away.  The  moon  itself  looked  white  and  faint 
in  the  west, — the  lake  in  its  absolute  stillness  seemed  to 
say, 

"  When  sorrow  is  asleep,  wake  it  not." 

The  birds  had  no  fear  of  waking  anything  but  joy;  and 
they  sang — as  if  every  egg-shell  held  nothing  but  happiness, 
and  each  nest  had  no  straws  but  of  pleasure. 

1  stood  a  minute — long  enough  for  the  mind  to  draw  one 
of  those  quick,  heart-felt  comparisons  that  an  hour's  study 


504  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

could  hardly  retouch,  and  then  turned  to  find  Kate  close  by 
me. 

"Gracie,"  she  said,  with  lips  that  would  scarce  be  con- 
trolled, "  if  you  are  going  to  look  so  pale  to-day,  I  shall  not 
quite  know  what  to  do.  Suppose  you  sit  down  here  and 
let  me  dress  your  hair  first." 

"  No  indeed !"  I  said  rousing  myself. 

"  Yes  indeed.  You  shall  not  touch  mine  till  I  have  done 
what  is  needful  to  yours, — it  has  almost  arranged  itself." 

"  Wait  till  you  see  it  when  I  have  been  in  the  garden. — I 
am  going  right  down  after  flowers,  and  then  between  dew 
and  bushes  it  will  be  in  a  pretty  condition." 

I  should  have  been  long  getting  them  had  there  been  time, 
— as  it  was,  I  thought  gladly  that  Kate  could  not  tell  dew- 
drops  from  tears. 

With  what  pleasure  I  dressed  her  hair !  ornamenting  it 
with  the  loveliest  of  rosebuds  and  freshest  of  green  leaves 
— not  more  lovely  and  fresh  than  the  dear  wearer,  as  every 
one  thought  who  looked  at  them ;  while  the  bouquet  de 
corsage  displayed  against  its  ground  of  white  muslin  the 
purple  tints  of  heliotrope  and  violets  as  well  as  the  soft 
colours  of  "  the  queen  of  the  flowers."  One  other  sprig, 
that  I  thought  hidden  among  its  more  showy  neighbours, 
Kate  saw  with  tears  that  were  hard  to  check, — the  little 
blue  forget-me-not. 

"  My  dear  Gracie !"  she  said,  taking  me  in  her  arms, 
"  never — till  I  forget  myself!" 

And  I  could  answer  her  almost  calmly,  braced  now,  with 
excitement.  I  could  even  watch — it  was  not  very  steadily 
— the  looks  that  met  her  when  she  came  down  stairs ;  and 
I  laughed  with  the  rest,  though  no  thanks,  to  myself,  at  the 
wondering  exclamation  of  little  'Dency  Barrington, 

"  Don't  it  beat  all,  Mrs.  Howard !" 

The  sun  shone  its  brightest,  the  birds  sang  their  sweetest, 
that  morning  in  early  summer,  when  we  stood  in  the  little 
church  to  see  one  of  our  few  treasures  made  over  to  anoth- 
er's keeping.  We  were  very  glad — no  one  could  help  it 
who  looked  at  them ;  yet  did  I  feel  that  stirring  within  me 
which  would  by  and  by  have  its  way.  Not  now, — I  was 
as  calm  outwardly  as  Kate  herself. 

I  had  a  general  impression  of  other  figures  about  me, 


DOLLARS  AN'D   CENTS.  505 

— of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carvill — of  Mrs.  Willet — of  Squire 
Suy dam's  portliness  and  Capt.  De  Camp's  epaulettes ;  with 
the  angular  forms  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barrington  in  the  back- 
ground. Yet  these  were  but  the  trappings  of  the  scene, — 
my  eye  thought  nothing  tangible  but  the  place  where  they 
stood,  my  ear  thought  nothing  real  but  their  words — the 
words  spoken  to  them  were  only  a  breath  from  dreamland, 
— I  almost  lost  my  own  identity  in  that  strange  mixture 
of  pleasure  and  pain.  And  as  the  sun  rising  higher  and 
higher  drove  away  the  last  shadow,  and  poured  a  full  stream 
of  light  through  the  open  church-door,  even  Mr.  Rodney 
and  Kate  seemed  a  vision,  in  that  bright  halo.  Only  I 
knew  that  it  enclosed  but  them,  it  reached  not  to  me, — ex- 
cept as  one  tiny  sunbeam  strayed  away  even  to  my  feet, 
as  waiting  for  me  to  take  it  up. 

A  few  words,  a  few  looks,  so  real  that  I  almost  wished 
myself  dreaming  again,  and  we  were  once  more  in  the 
fresh  morning  air,  driving  quick  towards  home.  I  noticed 
just  one  thing — that  the  fourth  seat  in  our  carriage  was 
occupied  by  Mr.  Ellis.  By  some  happy  combination  of 
coachmen  and  horses  we  reached  the  house  in  advance  of 
our  \nsiters,  and  had  a  quiet  five  minutes  before  they 
arrived. 

Perhaps  it  was  well  as  my  father  had  said,  that  the  two 
kinds  of  humanity  should  mingle  at  such  a  time.  It  may 
be  questioned  whether  anything  could  have  so  effectually 
roused  our  composure  and  self-possession  as  the  two  pair 
of  eyes  which  presented  themselves  at  the  end  of  that  five 
minutes.  But  Kate  heard  their  carriage  approach,  with  a 
look  that  was  only  half  resigned  and  the  other  half 
fearful. 

"  You  seem  to  have  very  little  tnist  in  my  protection, 
Daphne,"  said  Mr.  Collingwood  smiling. 

"  I  haven't  a  bit  of  trust  in  my  own  sense — " 

And  the  face  showed  how  very  far  the  heart  was  from 
raillery,  such  as  those  quick  coming  wheels  premised. 

"  You  shall  not  be  troubled,"  he  said, — "  '  more  than 
with  safety  of  a  pure  blush  thou  mayest  get  off  again.' 
But  my  dear  Katie  do  you  know  the  best  way  to  take  hold 
of  such  plants  as  you  once  compared  me  to?  If  you  touch 
them  too  fearfully  there  is  the  more  danger  of  being  hurt." 


506  DOLLARS  AND   CEXTS. 

A  very  resolved  little  breath  answered  him,  but  so  much 
more  resolved  than  strong  that  we  both  smiled,  though 
somewhat  sympathetically. 

"  Perhaps  my  sense  will  come  back  to  me,"  Kate  said, 
trying  to  reassure  herself  with  a  laugh, — "at  all  events 
don't  think  any  more  about  it." 

"  No,  I  shall  concentrate  my  thoughts  upon  some  one 
else,"  said  Mr.  Rodney  very  gravely. 

Mr.  Carvill  had  certainly  some  reason  for  his  first  re- 
mark. 

"  Miss  Kate,  it  gives  me  extreme  satisfaction  to  find  that 
the  torch  which  has  been  so  recently  waved  over  your  head 
has  not  in  the  least  impaired  the  freshness  and  profusion  of 
your  roses.  I  think  I  must  felicitate  you  this  morning 
upon  possessing  the  true  '  Cramoisi  superieur.'  " 

"  And  I  think,"  said  Mr.  Rodney,  "  that  '  Miss  Kate'  as 
you  call  her  would  like  your  conversation  quite  as  well  if 
it  were  a  little  less  flow^ery." 

"  My  dear  sir,' ■  said  Mr.  Carvill,  "  if  you  are  not  classi- 
cal, that  cannot  be  helped, — I  perceive  Miss  Kate  under- 
stands me  perfectly.  And  as  for  that  form  of  address — 
upon  my  word  I'll  change  it  when  I  can  decide  upon  an 
alternative.  If  she  were  in  England,  of  course — I  might 
say  Lady  Rodney  at  once, — but  here — " 

"  Je  ne  sais  quelle  finesse  vous  entendez  a  cela,'* 
said  Mrs.  Carvill,  glancing  from  one  to  the  other  in  uncer- 
tainty. "  Mais  Cateau — encore  vos  yeux !  Etes-vous  deja. 
lasse  r' 

"  Tant  soit  peu,"  Kate  said  with  a  smile,  and  raising  her 
eyes  "  to  order,"  though  the  lady's  look  of  examination 
and  interest  was  rather  hard  to  bear. 

"Et  un  peu  craintivel" — said  Mrs.  Carvill  with  that 
same  half  smile  and  manner  as  if  she  had  been  talking  to 
a  child.     "  II  ne  faut  pas  de  cela." 

Kate  might  have  been  thankful  for  the  quick  look  which 
protected  her  from  Mr.  Carvill's  commentary  on  his  wife's 
remark. 

"  Miss  Kate,"  he  said  in  a  disconsolate  tone,  "  I  am  for- 
bidden to  talk  to  you !" 

"Not  by  me,  sir,"  she  said  so  gently  and  steadily  that 
Mr.  Carvill  for  the  second  time  in  his  life  looked  a  little 


DOLLAES  AND   CENTS.  607 

like  the  rest  of  his  family.  But  his  wife's  next  remark 
brought  him  back  to  himself. 

"  Que  faites-vous  de  vos  '  Mademoiselles' !" 

"  Eh  bieii — "  said  Mr.  Carvill, — "  dois-je  la  nommer 
par  iiom  ou  par  surnom  ? — comment  veut-elle  qu'on  I'ap- 
pelle?" 

"Cela  s'appelle  folic  en  bon  Fran9ois,'*  said  Mrs.  Carvill 
disdainfully. 

"  Cela  s'appelle  a  reasonable  question,  in  good  Eng- 
lish."— 

"  Tell  him  Katie,"  said  Mr.  Collingwood,  "  that  a  stranger 
is  never  obliged  to  take  the  initiative." 

"  All  I  can  do,"  said  Mr.  Carvill,  "  is  to  imagine  myself 
in  Congress,  and  cry  '  question  !'  " 

"  II  est  question  de  manger  a  present,"  said  Mr.  How- 
ard. "  Break  your  fast  first  and  your  lances  afterwards, 
Mr.  Carvill,  if  you  please  sir." 

"  But  my  dear  Madam,"  said  Mr.  Carvill  as  he  led  the 
w^ay  with  Mrs.  Howard,  "  anything  like  eating  does  seem 
too  material  for  the  present  occasion — when  every  mind  is 
raised  entirely  above  all  sublunary  things,  AVith  all  def 
erence — I  would  suggest — that  the  occasional  burning  of  a 
pastille  would  have  answered  every  purpose." 

"  Except  that  of  keeping  us  alive  till  dinner-time,"  said 
my  flither. 

"  He  would  not  live  upon  air,  no  more  than  other  people," 
said  Mrs.  Carvill. 

"Never  intend  to  try,  my  dear.  You  perceive  Mrs. 
How^ard  that  it  all  comes  of  not  knowing  who  was  behind 
me, — I  had  an  indefinite  idea  that  my  immediate  followers 
— I  should  say  those  whom  I  have  the  honour  to  precede — 
considered  the  fanning  of  Cupid's  wings  as  quite  satisfying 
and  substantial." 

But  waving  all  rights  of  precedence,  Mr.  Rodney  had 
given  Kate  the  next  place — much  to  her  satisfaction. 

"And  your  roses  are  not  quite  so  flourishing  as  your 
sister's,  Miss  Grace,"  said  Mr.  Ellis. 

"  Aren't  they  sir  ?  I  am  sure  my  cheeks  have  felt  hot 
enough." 

"  Theie  is  a  little  too  much  of  the  hot-house  about  them. 
They  want  rest." 


508  DOLLARS  AND  CESTS. 

"  They  will  have  it  Mr.  Ellis,"  said  Mr.  Rodney  looking 
round  at  us  with  a  smile  of  very  bright  affection  and  interest, 
"  when  she  is  once  fairly  wonted  at  the  Bird's  Nest.  When 
the  tendrils  find  out  that  their  beloved  support  is  not  gone 
— only  moved  off  a  little,  they  will  cling  as  happily  as 
ever." 

"  And  to  brother  as  well  as  sister,  I  am  thinking,"  said 
Mr.  Ellis. 

"  I  trust  so  indeed." 

And  then  as  we  reached  the  breakfast-room  Mr.  Rodney 
quietly  frustrated  his  brother's  intentions,  and  placed  me  in 
the  third  seat,  by  himself  and  Kate. 

"  Voila  un  homme  qui  sait  naviguer !"  said  Mr.  Carvill 
with  an  air  of  resignation.  "  II  cherche  avant  tout  le  salut 
de  sa  prise.     Well — '  distance  lends  enchantment' !" 

"  See  if  you  can  make  that  rule  hold  good  in  all  cases,'* 
said  Mr.  Rodney  smiling. 

"Vain  attempt!"  said  Mr.  Carvill.  "I  am  sure  that 
Miss  Kate  is  saying  mentally,  'ni  de  pres  ni  de  loin  !'  " — 

"  Elle  a  raison,"  said  Mrs.  Carvill. 

"That  rule  is  of  very  general  application,"  said  Mr. 
Howard  ; — "  it  seems  strange  when  you  come  to  think  of  it, 
that  pleasant  things  should  have  the  most  power  to  '  annihi- 
late time  and  space,' — that  distant  scenes  should  come  to 
us  as  it  were  distilled,  through  the  long  medium  of  years 
or  of  atmosphere." 

"And  yet  the  bitter  has  often  most  present  power,"  said 
Mr.  Ellis. 

"But  you  mean  not  to  say,"  said  Mrs.  Carvill,  "that 
every  reminiscence  est  de  couleur  de  rose  1  les  choses  des- 
agreables  durent  aussi — n'est-ce  pas  f 

"  Sometimes, — but  the  pleasure-winged  minutes  fly  fur- 
thest, I  think,"  said  Mr.  Howard. 

"I  do  not  understand  that." 

"  I  think  the  will  has  a  good  deal  to  do  with  it,  Mrs.  Car- 
vill," said  Kate, — "  on  garde  ce  qu'on  aime  et  passe  par  les 
autres." 

"  Remarkable  exemplification  of  that  before  you,  Clem- 
ence,"  said  Mr.  Carvill  in  a  low  tone,  as  if  he  did  not  wish 
to  draw  the  attention  of  any  one  else  to  the  fact. 

"And  then,"  said  Mr.  Rodney,  "the  mind  in  looking 


DOLLARS  AXD   CENTS.  509 

back  dwells  often  est  upon  the  pleasantest  thoughts,  and  so 
deepens  gradually  the  impressions  that  were  perhaps  at 
first  but  slight." 

"  The  long  and  the  short  of  the  matter  is,"  said  Mr. 
Carvill,  "  that  when  this  morning  shall  have  been  as  Mr. 
Howard  says  distilled  through  a  course  of  years,  my  fair 
vis-a-vis  will  find  herself  in  the  possession  of  a  small  quan- 
tity, of  very  strong,  Parfait  Amour.  Are  you  fond  of  that 
cordial,  Miss  Kate  V 

'•  Not  in  involuntary  doses,  sir," 

"  Vous  serez  obligee  de  decliner  votre  nom,  Katie,"  said 
Mr.  Howard  smiling. 

"  Je  ne  le  ferois  point — moi,"  said  Mrs.  Carvill.  "  Mr. 
Rodeney — what  for  do  you  permit  que  votre  amie  soil  si 
badinee  ?" 

•'  Is  my  friend  very  much  troubled  by  the  badinage  ?" 
he  said  with  a  smile.  "Mais  Clemence  que  faire?  Vou- 
lez-vous  que  je  prenne  un  ton  protecteur  1" 

But  Mr.  Carvill  found  the  protection  rather  too  powerful 
for  him  till  we  got  back  to  the  drawing-room. 

"  I  declare,"  he  said  then,  "  1  will  not  speak  another  word 
to  you  to-day  Miss  Kate,  if  you  will  only  settle  that  diffi- 
cult question — que  faut-il  que  je  vous  appelle  ?" 

"Votre  sujet,  ce  matin,"  said  Kate  smiling. 

"  To  say  that  to  me !"  said  Mr.  Carvill. 

"  '  A  un  homme  qui  jamais  n'a  fait  la  moindre  chose 
A  meriter  I'affront  oil  ton  mepris  Texpose  1' 

Miss  Kate — if  you  will  permit  me  to  pay  my  respects  at 
some  future  day,  I  hope  I  shall  have  recovered  the  power 
of  speech." 

"  Quelle  folie  !"  said  Mrs.  Carvill.  "  AUons— il  faut  le 
pouvoir  faire  a  present." 

"  And  the  question  unanswered." — 

*•  I  will  answer  it  for  you — some  time  when  I  have  noth- 
ing else  to  do,"  said  Mr.  Rodney. 

But  as  Mr.  Carvill  remarked,  that  would  be  a  renoark- 
ably  long  postponement. 

I  was  proud  and  surprised  and  amused  to  see  the  way 
his  wife  looked  at  Kate.  Of  a  singularly  untrusting  dis- 
position— perhaps  because  she  had  been  brought  up  amoug 


510  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

poor  specimens  of  human  nature — she  seemed  to  have 
been  half  fascinated  with  the  very  true  and  trustful  eyes 
which  were  my  delight, — nor  mine  only.  With  all  Mrs. 
Carvill's  respect  and  liking  for  Mr.  Rodney  there  was  per- 
haps mingled  a  little  reserve ;  but  there  was  nothing  about 
Kate  to  call  for  it,  and  Mrs.  Carvill  treated  her  as  if  she 
were  the  prettiest  little  natural  curiosity  she  had  ever  seen, 
— and  the  most  loveable. 

"  Cateau,"  she  said,  "  quand  comptez-vous  etre  visible  1 
Et  combien  voulez-vous  que  je  vienne  chez  vous  1" 

"  Toujours" — Kate  said,  with  no  lack  of  cordiality  in 
look  or  voice,  but  colouring  at  the  same  time  so  much, 
that  Mrs.  Carvill  fairly  laughed  at  her. 

"  C'est  une  vraie  petite !"  she  said  turning  to  Mr.  Rod- 
ney. 

But  he  testified  neither  dissent  nor  disapprobation. 

"  Et  la  petite  du  monde  la  plus  simple, — que  va  bien. 
Mais  vous  etes  mauvais  enfant  de  regarder  toujours  en  bas." 

And  laying  her  hands  on  Kate's  shoulders  and  looking  at 
her  for  half  a  minute,  Mrs.  Carvill  dismissed  her  with  a 
summary  little  kiss  and  "  mille  amities." 

"  II  n'y  faut  pas  tant  de  bruit" — she  remarked  as  Mr. 
Carvill  came  up  to  make  his  adieus, — "  vous  pouvez  dire 
*  soeur  Cateau'  T 

"  C'est  9a,"  said  Mr.  Rodney  smiling. 

"  S'il  m'est  permis"- — said  Mr.  Carvill  deferentially, — 
"  but  she  likes  not  compliments — and  if  I  call  her  ma  belle- 
sceur — Madame  Cateau,  I  beg  you  to  think  of  it — and  give 
me  your  definitive  the  next  time  we  meet." 

"  O  little  Gracie !"  Kate  said  as  they  left  the  room,  "  I 
have  not  had  a  chance  to  say  thi-ee  words  to  you.  Come 
and  sit  down  here  and  talk  to  me." 

"  Shake  hands  with  me  first,  young  ladies,"  said  Mr. 
Ellis. 

"  When  shall  we  see  you  again,  sir  ?'*  asked  my  step- 
mother. 

"  Hardly  can  tell  ma'am — before  long  I  hope.  Only  I 
sha'n't  want  to  come  until — how  many  days  will  it  take  the 
world  and  his  wife  to  pay  their  visits,  Mrs.  Collingwood  V 

But  the  very  perceptible  start  with  which  the  question 
was  met,  prevented  all  answer  but  a  general  laugh. 


DOLLARS  AXD  CENTS.  511 

"  Ah  I  can't  say  any  more  to  you  after  that,"  said  Mr. 
Ellis, — "I  advise  you  to  take  Mr.  Carvill's  query  into 
consideration.  But  I  didn't  know  that  new  notions  had 
found  their  way  in  here." 

"  What  new  notions,  Mr.  Ellis  ?"  said  Kate.  "  I  don't 
think  they  have, — not  to  me." 

Tni  afraid  I  shall  startle  you  again,"  said  Mr.  Ellis 
smiling.  "  Don't  you  know  there  are  some  people  who 
think  '  it  is  best  not  to  mention  things'  ?  It  is  getting  to  be 
the  fashion  now-a-days  to  call  a  gentleman's  wife  '  his  com- 
panion'— and  I  didn't  know  what  the  vocative  of  that 
might  be.  But  good-bye  !  And  if  there  is  any  truth  in  the 
old  saying  '  Happy  the  bride  that  the  sun  shines  on,'  then 
will  all  my  hopes  and  expectations  be  fulfilled ;  and  the 
surpassing  beauty  of  this  morning  be  but  an  emblem  of 
the  life  you  two  are  to  spend  together." 

It  was  indeed  as  good  a  personification  of  "  jocund  day'* 
as  could  well  be  imagined.  Warm-breathed,  musical,  rich 
with  the  deep  verdure,  aromatic  from  the  time  that  Phoebus 

"  Came  dauncing  forth,  shaking  his  deawie  haire," — 

the  wind  spoke  its  joyousness  but  softly,  as  if  sympathizing 
with  the  hearts  that  trembled  as  the  glad  influences  swept 
over  them.  But  no  heart  let  its  trembling  be  known — 
strengthened  by  the  very  love  that  made  its  weakness. 
And  all  nature's  voices  gave  us  one  happy  reminder, — 
whatever  difficulties  might  again  surround  us,  they  could 
not  touch  Kate. 

W^as  there  anything  real  in  the  quick-passing  hours  we 
talked  away  in  our  little  sitting-room  1  it  seemed  so  then, 
but  afterwards  I  thought  them  only  a  dream.  Talked  ? — 
ah  it  was  often  but  the  speech  of  eye  and  lip  and  hand, — 
words  would  not  always  come  to  those  who  wanted  them 
most. 

"  Gracie,"  Mr.  Rodney  said  after  one  of  our  moments  of 
silence,  "  what  are  you  thinking  of  so  doubtfully  ?" 

"  Doubtfully  V 

"  That  was  rather  a  dubious  look  that  passed  from  Kate 
to  me.  Are  you  afraid  I  shall  not  take  good  care  of  your 
dear  sister  1" 

"  1  am  sure  you  will !" — 


512  DOLLARS  AND   CENTS. 

"Then  ^yhat  were  you  thinking  ofl"  he  said  with  a  smile 
which  could  not  be  gamsaid. 

"  I  was  thinking — how  much  I  like  to  take  care  of  her 
myself." 

"  My  dear  child !  you  never  liked  anything  with  better 
reason.  But  Gracie,  my  care  can  reach  a  point  which  yours 
could  not — so  flir  you  must  be  glad, — and  further  than  that 
— my  Daphne  had  a  great  deal  of  my  attention  after  it  came 
down  stairs.  What  kind  of  a  selfish  mortal  do  you  sup- 
pose I  am  ?" 

"  I  do  not  think  you  are  selfish  at  all,  Mr.  Eodney,"  I 
said  laughing,  yet  with  eyes  too  full  to  look  up, — "  I  believe 
I  am,  sometimes." 

"  I  should  like  to  see  you  at  one  of  those  times,"  said  he 
smiling, — "  I  shall  be  a  very  uncompromising  guardian,  now 
that  I  have  taken  upon  myself  a  part  of  Kate's  care  for  you. 
But  Daphne,  I  shall  call  for  your  thoughts,  next." 

"I  was  thinking  of  the  unreasonable  wish  you  had  just 
expressed,"  said  Kate  raising  her  eyes  from  a  very  grave 
contemplation  of  her  bouquet — "  at  least  if  all  wishes  be 
unreasonable  which  cannot  be  fulfilled.  Gracie  did  you 
ever  see  flowers  keep  so  fresh  as  mine  have  done  V 

"  Of  course — I  meant  they  should." 

"  You  did  not  put  wax  on  them  this  morning,  in  all  your 
hurry  f 

"  Not  in  a  hurry,  exactly, — but  I  wanted  them  to  keep 
just  so  sweet  and  fresh  all  day,  and  not  being  a  fairy  I  had 
to  resort  to  common  measures.  Yes — they  have  not 
changed  a  bit, — except  that  there  is  no  dew  on  them,"  I 
said  looking  hastily  from  her  eyes  to  the  flowers. 

"  I  used  to  hear  of  a  little  fairy  that  was  called  '  Good- 
will'," said  Mr.  Collingwood. 

"  There  ought  to  be  no  dew  on  them  now,"  said  my 
father,  "But  you  see  Gracie  that  even  the  atmosphere  of 
this  day  does  not  wither  what  was  well  prepared  to  meet 
it." 

And  after  dinner  we  were  to  accompany  Kate  to  her 
new  home.  Not  in  a  carriage, — we  did  not  want  to  go 
wheeling  round  that  long  road  in  the  sight  of  everybody, — 
but  we  were  to  go  through  the  woods ;  where  we  need  have 
none  to  watch  us  but  the  song-sparrows  and  thrushes, — 


DOLLARS  AND   CENTS.  613 

where  our  eyes  need  see  nothing  but  the  soft  play  of  the 
green  leaves,  and  each  other.  And  the  afternoon  was  not 
hot,  it  had  but  just  such  an  infusion  of  summer  as  made  the 
shade  pleasant,  and  our  preparations  for  the  walk  very 
slight.  I  wished  them  longer, — my  heart  was  taking  up  its 
burden  now,  when  least  able  to  bear  it, — I  felt  that  I  was 
nearing  some  dreaded  point,  and  the  loss  of  a  glove  seemed 
a  welcome  delay.  But  once  only  my  fortitude  gave  way, 
— it  was  when  Kate  paused  for  a  moment  as  I  had  seen 
her  do  so  many  years  before,  to  take  one  look  at  the  home 
she  was  leaving.  I  remembered  what  I  had  felt  then — I 
felt  it  over  again  now ;  and  my  steps  lingered  by  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Howard,  almost  behind  them,  till  Mr.  Rodney  looked 
back  and  said  in  his  very  gentle  and  decided  manner, 

"Gracie,  you, must  come  and  walk  with  us." 

And  then,  though  my  heart  caught  at  every  touch  of 
gravity  that  the  walk  could  furnish,  with  the  affinity  that 
drops  of  water  have  for  each  other,  my  companions  would 
not  let  me  be  sorrowful ;  and  as  we  passed  along  the  little 
path  we  had  so  often  travelled — without  any  violent  wrest- 
ing of  my  thoughts  from  what  they  were  so  fastened  upon 
— there  was  the  constant  showing  of  the  bright  side, — the 
most  gentle  attempts  to  make  me  see  it. 

"  How  quickly  the  grass  has  grown  over  this  path !"  I 
said,  with  a  feeling  as  if  it  were  moralizing  to  me. 

"  The  path  will  take  its  old  look  again,  very  soon,  Gracie, 
— '  the  grass  will  not  grow  under  your  feet'  when  you  are 
coming  to  see  Kate." 

"  Nor  under  mine,"  she  said,  "  when  I  am  going  to  see 
you.     How  often  do  you  suppose  we  shall  meet  halfway  1" 

"  Not  often,"  I  said  rather  falteringly,  but  smiling  too ; 
*'  for  I  shall  always  set  out  first  and  run  the  fastest." 

"  I  shall  have  to  teach  Wolfgang  to  run  with  you,  Gracie," 
said  Mr.  Collingwood, — "  this  is  too  lonely  a  walk  without 
company." 

"  Ah  you  never  could  teach  him  that !  see  even  now,  how 
he  stops  and  looks  round  to  make  sure  you  are  following 
him.  He  never  has  stayed  with  us  since  you  came  home, 
Mr.  Rodney." 

And  as  we  approached,  Wolfgang  gave  a  reassured  wag 
of  his  tail  and  trotted  on. 


514  DOLLARS  AND  CENTS. 

"  I  wonder,"  I  said,  "  what  ever  made  him  take  such  a 
special  fancy  to  Kate?" 

"  Don't  you  remember,"  said  Mr.  Rodney  smiling,  "  that 
I  once  told  you  how  he  and  I  always  understand  each  other  ? 
I  have  no  doubt  his  obedience  was  given  wittingly." 

I  was  very  calm  again ;  and  keeping  close  by  Kate's  side 
could  look  at  all  within  doors  and  without  that  was  so  hung 
with  associations,  and  talk  of  the  many  pleasant  things  we 
remembered  in  that  place.  Never  had  it  looked  more 
lovely.  In  all  its  old  perfect  order — the  very  flower-baskets 
filled  with  tenants  as  sweet  as  those  that  had  long  ago 
withered, — years  had  wrought  no  change  but  of  improve- 
ment ;  and  but  one  thing  seemed  put  beyond  that  shadowy 
line  which  divided  the  present  from  the  past.  But  one, 
said  I  ? — nay  in  those  bright  days  beyond  the  line,  there 
was  no  place  for  the  something  which  at  last  began  to  assert 
its  power,  as  I  sat  by  Kate  looking  up  and  listening — happy 
in  spite  of  that  weight.  And  yet  it  deepened ;  and  as  it 
were  spread  over  all  my  heart, — a  very  film  of  ice. 

Again  Mr.  Rodney  came  and  sat  down  by  me,  and  softly 
disengaging  one  of  my  hands,  kept  it  in  his  own. 

"  Gracie,"  he  said,  "  do  you  remember  that  talk  about 
the  jewel  and  Portia  1" 

«  Yes"— I  said. 

"  And  have  you  looked  at  your  jewel  to  see  how  you 
like  it  in  its  new  setting  V 

Not  as  I  looked  then — and  I  had  never  seen  it  look  so 
lovely.  The  fair  image  I  had  dressed  in  the  morning  was 
unchanged,  even  to  the  drooping  of  a  rosebud ;  and  there 
seemed  an  indescribable  adornment  of  circumstance  and 
position — it  might  be  of  imagination — that  made  me  feel 
the  jewel  was  where  it  ought  to  be — where  it  would  shine 
best.  I  could  not  wish  it  elsewhere.  And  as  my  eyes,  too 
full  to  look  longer,  again  sought  the  floor,  Mr.  Collingwood 
said  with  a  tone  and  smile  that  went  to  my  very  heart, 

"  Are  you  content  with  it,  dear  Gracie  ?" 

And  looking  up  at  him  I  answered  earnestly, 

"  Oh  yes  !"— 

With  the  weight  a  little  lightened  now,  by  the  gentle 
directing  of  my  thoughts  and  by  Kate's  loving  kiss,  which 
said  the  jewel  was  still  the  same ;  and  not  least,  by  seeing 


DOLLARS  AND   CENTS.  515 

how  precious  it  was  in  other  eyes  than  mine  ;  I  again  sat 
quietly  listening, — learning  as  Mr.  Ellis  had  said,  to  cling 
to  brother  as  well  as  sister.  "  Ay  de  me"  !  I  could  not 
sit  there  always ! 

The  others  had  left  the  house,  and  still  I  bent  over  the 
wicker-stand  and  smelled  the  flowers  as  if  they  were  my 
only  care.  But  I  did  not  dare  raise  my  eyes,  and  every 
moment  brought  less  and  less  trust  in  my  own  self-com- 
mand. At  length  as  two  or  three  tears  had  fallen  upon 
the  roses,  and  I  had  nearly  laid  my  own  face  there,  for  very 
weariness  and  grief;  Kate  softly  put  her  arm  round  me 
and  said, 

*'  They  are  calling  you,  Gracie  love ; — good-night.'* 

J  looked  up,  but  without  seeing  a  thing, — felt  their  kisses 
upon  my  face,  knew  that  Kate  held  me  very  close  in  her 
arms  for  a  moment,  and  then  that  I  was  out  of  the  house. 
I  reached  the  road,  and  stopped. 

It  was  late  in  the  afternoon.  In  such  weather  and  time 
of  year  had  we  first  come  there.  Again  the  Cherokee  roses 
were  in  full  bloom,  again  the  Baltimore  birds  fluttered 
about  their  nest ;  again  the  long  sunbeams  came  over  the 
lake  and  fell  softened  upon  the  pretty  bay-window ; — but 
now  at  the  open  sash  stood  Mr.  Rodney  and  Kate,  watch- 
ing me.     My  eye  went  no  further — my  heart  was  full. 

Of  sorrow  for  myself — of  joy  for  them, — of  mingled  sor- 
row and  joy  for  the  dear  friend  who  had  wished  just  such 
successors  ;  and  turning  away,  I  wept  some  of  the  bitterest, 
sweetest  tears,  that  ever  fell  from  my  eyes. 


THE  END. 


